Project
Fuvahmulah Coastal Protection
NIRAS is sub-consultant for MTH Højgaard in establishing coastal protection along a 2.6 km coastal stretch on Fuvahmulah, the Maldives, where the sea level rise already is very evident.
February 10, 2025
- SECTORS: Ports, Marine & Coastal
- COUNTRIES: the Maldives
- CLIENT: MT Højgaard
- DURATION: 2021-2025
Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Maldives is planning to implement the ‘Coastal Protection Gn. Fuvahmulah’ project which includes development, implementation and maintenance of a sustainable coastal protection of one of the most southern islands of Maldives.
MT Højgaard has won the project and have NIRAS A/S to provide
engineering consultancy services. We have made the preliminary design for tender, inspected the coastline and the existing facilities as well as made geotechnical investigations, made the outline proposal, detailed design and drawings for the contractor using CAD. Additionally, NIRAS has defined the setup for 2D physical model experiments, assisted with tests, made MIKE modelling regionally as well as locally and done CFD modelling of waves propagating across the reef.
The main objective of the project is to provide a coastal revetment
to protect the elevated coastal ridge against ongoing erosion and
to prevent flooding due to the rising sea level. The long term overall
objective is to provide the population on the island with both a safe
and healthy environment to live and work in as well as to provide a
sustainable basis for further socio-economic development.
The project is located at the south part of the Maldives islands
approximately 500km south of the Capital Male. The island is located on a coral reef, and when the waves hit the reef, large amounts of water is pushed upon the reef. This can lead to flooding of the island, which is only 2 m above mean sea level at its highest point.
The processes on the reef are special, which is why the project has included hydraulic model experiments to verify and adapt the numerical models as well as the design of the revetment.
The coastal protection is made to protect against erosion as well as flooding. The protection of the coastline consists of 2.6 km revetment and seawall, five staircases to access the beach, one rainwater drainage outlet as well as protection of swimming area using breakwaters.
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