Archive for category: Case Studies

Environmental Consulting Services for the “Limassol Greens Golf Resort”, in Fasouri, Limassol

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TITLE: Environmental Consulting Services for the “Limassol Greens Golf Resort”, in Fasouri, Limassol

MINI DESCRIPTION: The “Limassol Greens Golf Resort” concerns the creation of a fully integrated golf and real estate development in the Limassol District by the company Lanitis Golf Public Co. Ltd. It is adjacent to the upcoming first Casino Resort in Cyprus and in close proximity to the Limassol’s City Centre, Limassol’s Port and Limassol Marina.

CLIENT: Private Sector

REGION: Fasouri, Limassol

TYPE: Environmental Permitting

DURATION: 2018 – 2020

OTHER PARTNERS: –

DESCRIPTION: The “Limassol Greens Golf Resort” includes the creation and development of a “18-hole championship golf course, including ancillary infrastructure, other similar facilities and building area with 495 luxurious villas and 233 apartments”. The total size of the site is 141 hectares, but the building area covers an area of 150.000 m2. In particular, the development will also include a Golf Club House of 1.700 m2, Retail & Commercial facilities including shops, restaurants, bars and convenience store with a total rentable space of 2.850 m2, Wellness and Sports Centre including indoor and outdoor pools, spa treatment facilities, fitness area, tennis and squash courts with total area of 2.400 m2, a Maintenance building of 3.400 m2 and a Sewerage Treatment Plant of 1.300 m2, which is going to serve the whole development.

I.A.CO Ltd provided integrated environmental consulting services, aiming the compliance of the development with the Environmental terms of the Town Planning permit. These included the successful elaboration of the following:

  • Report of the Revised Numerical Fluctuations and Capacities of the sub-projects /facilities of the development of “Limassol Greens Golf Resort” in the area ‘Fasouri’ of Limassol.
  • Groundwater Monitoring Program during the construction phase, as well as during the operation phase of the development.
  • Flora and Fauna Management Plan of the area during both the construction and operation phase of the development.
  • Waste Management Plan during the operation phase of the development.
  • Pesticides – Fertilizers – Lawn Management Plan during the operation phase of the development.
  • Irrigation Study of the Golf Course and the Green Areas of the development.
  • Monitoring Program and Safety Plan for the Operation of the Sewerage Treatment Plant of the development.
  • Construction Management Plan and Emergency Action Plan during the construction phase.
  • Environmental Management Plan.
  • Energy Saving Plan.
  • Environmental Statement of the development.

 

Conduction of the required reports for BREEAM accreditation for the project “City of Dreams Mediterranean” (Integrated Casino Resort) in Zakaki Area in Limassol

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TITLE: Conduction of the required reports for BREEAM accreditation for the project “City of Dreams Mediterranean” (Integrated Casino Resort) in Zakaki Area in Limassol.

MINI DESCRIPTION: The main purpose of the Project was to conduct the required reports for BREEAM accreditation for the project “City of Dreams Mediterranean” in Zakaki, Limassol. The conducted reports concerned an ecological assessment, an operational waste assessment and a surface water run-off assessment in order to support the BREEAM application of the development.

CLIENT: Private Sector

REGION: Limassol, Cyprus

TYPE: Environmental Permitting

DURATION: 08/2019 – 12/2019

OTHER PARTNERS: –

DESCRIPTION: BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s first sustainability rating scheme for the built environment, that aims to mitigate the life cycle impacts of buildings on the environment.

BREEAM’s Ecology assessment encourages project teams and facilities managers to reduce and manage impacts on the natural environment and local biodiversity/habitats and identifies opportunities for their enhancement. Assessment issues in this category relate to the use of land of low ecological value, mitigation of impacts and enhancement of identified ecological values, long term ecological and biodiversity management. Furthermore, within the ecological assessment various ways have been assessed in order to maximize the wider benefits to occupants and the broader society through provision of additional amenity and economic value in a manner which is context specific. There are four issues which have been addressed in the framework of the BREEAM’s Ecology category:

  1. Identification and understanding the risks and opportunities for a project
  2. Management of negative impacts on habitats and biodiversity
  3. Enhancement of ecological value
  4. Long term biodiversity management and maintenance

I.A.CO’s experts carried out the required reports for BREEAM accreditation referring to LE 04 – Enhancing site ecology and LE 05- Long term impact on biodiversity criteria that are included in the BREEAM Technical Manual (2016).

LE 04 criterion – Enhancing site ecology determines that the objective of the Study is to encourage actions taken to enhance the ecological value of the site as a result of the development. This criterion is divided into two parts:

  1. Ecologist’s report and recommendations, along with a suitably qualified ecologist (SQE) verification report (1 credit)
  2. Increase in ecological value (2 credits)

LE 05 criterion – Long-term impact on biodiversity determines that the objective of the Study is to minimize the long-term impact of the development on the site and the surrounding area’s biodiversity (2 credits).

Specifically, I.A.CO’s expert carried out the following tasks within the framework of the BREEAM accreditation for the Integrated Casino Resort in Zakaki:

  1. a) Description of the existing conditions in terms of habitats, flora and fauna species through a desk study and site observations,
  2. b) Assessment of possible important ecological aspects and
  3. c) Recommendations on how to enhance the ecology of the site.

The scope of ΒRΕΕΑΜ Operational Waste Report was to develop a general management plan/system for all categories of waste, that are expected to be generated during the operation phase of the development, which aims to ensure the protection of the environment and human health. This will be achieved by preventing or reducing waste production and by providing solutions for appropriate waste management while limiting the overall impact on the use of natural resources. The main objective of the Report was to recognize and encourage the provision of dedicated storage facilities for the casino resort’s operational-related recyclable waste.

Achieving the Wst 03 credit will require the client and contractors to implement the proposed waste management plan and consider the minimum specifications and allowances were given for the recyclable waste storage facilities, labelling, storage location and accessibility. Liaison between the consultant and the architects will also be required.

The surface water run-off assessment followed the “Pol 03 Surface water run-off” of the BREEAM Technical Manual (2016), which aims the avoidance, the reduction and the attenuation of the rainfall discharge to public sewers and watercourses, minimizing the potential environmental impacts. A total of 3 parts with total of 5 credits were used for the assessment of BREEAM Pol 03 and are divided into 3 parts:

  • Flood risk (2 credits)
  • Surface water run-off (2 credits)
  • Minimizing watercourse pollution (1 credit)

Each part is comprised of some criteria which were comprehensively analyzed. The “Flood risk” assessment examined all the potential sources of the development’s flooding (following: fluvial, tidal, surface water, groundwater, sewers, artificial sources and historical flooding). The “Surface water run-off” assessment included the estimation of the peak rate run-off from the site prior and after the construction of the proposed development, taking into account all the proposed sustainable drainage systems (SuDs) and the climate change. The “Minimizing watercourse pollution” assessment is comprised with six criteria which were focused on the prevention of pollution using the appropriate SuDs techniques.

Elaboration of Environmental Management Studies for the assessment of the Carrying Capacity of the Coastal Bays of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos in relation to receiving pumped groundwater discharges arising from high rise building dewatering needs during their construction (Contract No. 200/2018)

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TITLE: Elaboration of Environmental Management Studies for the assessment of the Carrying Capacity of the Coastal Bays of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos in relation to receiving pumped groundwater discharges arising from high rise building dewatering needs during their construction (Contract No. 200/2018)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Environmental Management Studies were related to the assessment of the carrying capacity of the coastal bays of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos to receive pumped  groundwater discharges arising from the dewatering process required during the excavation works carried out for the construction of underground spaces in the various high-rise buildings development projects.

CLIENT: Town Planning and Housing Department, Ministry of Interior

REGION: Limassol – Larnaca – Paphos, Cyprus

TYPE: Water and Flood Management

DURATION: 01/2019 – 10/2019

OTHER PARTNERS: –

DESCRIPTION:

Three separate Environmental Management Studies were prepared related to assessing the carrying capacity of the three coastal city bays as to receive the projected estimated amounts of  groundwater arising from the dewatering process required during the excavation works needed to be carried out during the construction of underground spaces in the various current or permitted high-rise building developments located in the following areas:

(a) Within the boundaries of Limassol’s Local Development Plan: the entire coastal area of ​​the Local Development Plan, from the area of ​​the New Port at the western limits of the Plan up to and including the administrative boundaries of Monagroulli community at the easternmost boundaries of the Plan,

(b) Within the boundaries of Larnaca’s Local Development Plan: from ​​Mackenzie area (Town Planning Zone Δ5) of the Municipality of Larnaca to Pyla community at the eastern limits of the Plan,

(c) Within the boundaries of Paphos Local Development Plan: the coastal area of the Touristic Zones of the Municipality of Geroskipou to the Touristic Zones of the Municipality of Pegeia on the westernmost boundaries of the Plan.

The work stages of each study included the following key elements:

(1) Description of the study area regarding its topographic and urban town planning characteristics.

(2) Collection of data from the Town Planning Authorities with regards to issued or under evaluation Applications for high rise building Town Planning Permits, for the determination of where these stand with regards to implementation or evaluation, so that a decision is made on which should be taken into consideration during the execution of these studies.

(3) Evaluation of the hydrogeological characteristics of the study area (development plots) and calculation of their drainage requirements per case depending on design data (e.g. depth and area of ​​basement) and local hydrogeological conditions.

(4) Estimation of groundwater quality characteristics and their evolution during the dewatering process.

(5) Comparative Examination of different feasible dewatering and possible water discharge methods per study area, as according to their hydrogeological conditions.

(6) Description of the current status of the marine environment in the under evaluation marine bays and other pressures in each bay.

(7) Description of the licensing process for high-rise buildings.

(8) Provision of proposals and recommendation of measures for integrated management for safe reuse or discharge of produced water specifically adapted to the particular characteristics of each study area.

 

Hydrological and Hydraulic Study for the stormwater management of the proposed development “Outlet Village and Amusement Park” in Kokkinotrimithia

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Hydrological and Hydraulic Study for the stormwater management of the proposed development “Outlet Village and Amusement Park” in Kokkinotrimithia

The main purpose of the Project was the elaboration of a Master Plan for the stormwater drainage system in order to secure the development safety from flooding.

CLIENT: Private Sector

REGION: Nicosia, Cyprus

TYPE: Water and Flood Management

DURATION: 01/2020 – 03/2020

OTHER PARTNERS: –

DESCRIPTION: The main purpose of the Project was the elaboration of a Master Plan for the stormwater drainage system in order to secure the development safety from flooding.

The proposed drainage system was designed for rainfall intensities with a return period of 1 in 10 years, taking into consideration the existing public drainage infrastructure in the vicinity of the project area.

The hydrological and hydraulic analysis included the following:

  • Determination of the drainage system configuration taking into consideration the Master Plan of the development, the proposed topography and the public drainage infrastructure.
  • Demarcation of the various subcatchments within the proposed development area.
  • Analysis of the existing meteorological data for the calculation of the rainfall for a return period of 1 in 10 years based on the Meteorological Station No. 520 in Kokkinotrimithia, which was the most appropriate and representative Meteorological Station.
  • Calculation of the derived peak flow from each examined subcatchment based on the Time of Concentration.
  • Hydraulic analysis for the design/sizing of the drainage system. The method used was in line with the guidelines of the Department of Public Works and other relevant Authorities.

The proposed drainage system is designed to be discharged to two points at the east and at the west of the study area. Both discharge points will be connected to the existing stormwater network, while part of the stormwater runoff at the southwest of the project area will be routed superficially into the green space.

HYDROLOGICAL AND HUDRAULIC STUDY FOR THE FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA WHERE THE NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF CYPRUS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED

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MINIDESCRIPTION: The main purpose of the Project was the conduction of a hydrological and hydraulic study for the flood risk assessment of the area where the new archaeological museum of Cyprus will be constructed. The area is located in Nicosia Municipality, adjacent to Pedieos River.

CLIENT: Department of Public Works

REGION: Nicosia, Cyprus

TYPE: Water and Flood Management

DURATION: 07/2019 – 09/2019

OTHERPARTNERS: –

DESCRIPTION:

The aim of the Project and according to the ToR, was:

  • Elaboration of a hydraulic model of the study area, which is bounded at the south from the Cheilonos Bridge and north from the Louki Akrita Bridge.
  • Extraction of hydraulic cross sections showing the flood extent for various return periods (1 in 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 years).
  • Production of Flood Maps based on the hydraulic analysis results. This facilitated the determination of the magnitude of the flood protection measures.

The Study showed that appropriate flood protection works need to be constructed in order to ensure the protection of the proposed development from flooding. Taking into account the importance of the proposed development, the flood control works should cover at least the 1 in 100-year flood event. The peak flows estimated for this flood event, took into consideration the future urbanization of the catchment area and the climate change.

Provision of services for the implementation of the Meltemi research project Interreg 2014-2020, Balkan – Mediterranean)

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I.A.CO as a subcontractor of the DFMR, in the context of the Meltemi project, provides services for the completion of tasks regarding public and stakeholder awareness raising and education, in order to combat/minimize the issue of marine litters.

CLIENT: Department of Fisheries and Marine Research

REGION: Paphos area

TYPE: Environmental policy

DURATION: 08/2018-11/2019

OTHER PARTNERS: —-

DFMR, following a tender procedure, subcontracted I.A.CO Environmental & Water Consultants in order to provide services in the implementation of various deliverables of MELTEMI project. MELTEMI – MarinE litter transnational LegislaTion EnchanceMent and Improvement project, has been approved for funding by the European Commission under Interreg 2014-2020, Balkan-Mediterranean and is designed to address the problem of marine litter.

Marine litter is a complex and transboundary environmental problem, with increasing concern worldwide. Today it is evident that effective policy and reduction measures should be urgently put in place, not only on local/national level, but also in regional/sub-regional. The overall objective of the MELTEMI project is to enhance the legal framework and increase the capacity of public authorities, stakeholders and society at large on mitigating marine litter pollution. Along with the assessment of marine litter in beaches and sea, the project foresees an active engagement of society and the key-players; which will be achieved by informing, ‘educating’ training and networking them on a science and policy assessment framework of marine litter.

MELTEMI’ s approach is based on the creation of transnational networks between Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria and Albania, where marine litter on the coastal zone will be assessed, with the aim to review the world’s best practices and tools and adapt them to countries’ needs.

More information on the project can be found: https://meltemi-balkanmed.eu/

Monitoring of plant species and habitats of the Directive 92/43/EC in the Natura 2000 area “Chersonisos Akama” with code «CY4000010»

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The overall objective of the project was monitoring, enumeration and mapping of 5 plant species of Annex II and 20 habitat types of Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EC at the Natura 2000 area “Chersonisos Akama”.

CLIENT: Department of Forests

REGION: “Chersonisos Akama” Natura 2000 area

TYPE: Ecology

DURATION: 04/2018-06/2019

OTHER PARTNERS: —-

The main aim of the project was the monitoring, enumeration and mapping of five (5) plant species of Annex II and twenty (20) habitat types of Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EC at the Natura 2000 area “Chersonisos Akama”. The plant species were Centaurea akamantis, Crepis pusilla, Ophrys kotschyi, Phlomis cypria subsp. occidentalis and Tulipa cypria. For each of the species, targeted fieldwork was conducted to collected information on their population size, geographical distribution, record threats and pressures. For each of the species a digital map was and geodatabase were created.

Regarding the monitoring of habitat types, specially designed protocols were used, for the recording of the typical species per habitat, other plants, specific structures and functions, as well as pressures and threats. The twenty (20) habitat types monitored were:  1210, 1240, 2110, 2230, 2240, 2250, 2260, 3170, 5210, 5330, 5420, 62B0, 8210, 8220, 9290, 92C0, 92D0, 9320, 9540, 9560.

The project delivered a distribution map of each habitat type, population density and distribution for each plant species within the Natura 2000 area and the floristic species associated with it, as well as comprehensive photographic, protocol and geographic databases. 

Provision of services for the preparation of Maps regarding the spatial distribution of Invasive alien species of Union interest in the Republic of Cyprus

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The overall objective of the project was the collection of data and the preparation of distribution maps for the Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern in Cyprus.

CLIENT: Department of Environment

REGION: Area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus

TYPE: Ecology

DURATION: 09/2018-11/2019

OTHER PARTNERS: —-

DESCRIPTION:

Main aim of the project was the collection of geospatial information, regarding the presence of the Invasive Alien Species of Union concern encountered in Cyprus. These are the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia) and the fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). The collection of information on the presence of species included field work and the set-up of bait traps for the freshwater turtle and the crayfish and onsite collection and lab identification for the grass.

The geospatial information was issued for the creation of grid maps 10×10 km per species. Moreover, recommendations were made for further elaboration of the data collected.

Sampling, sample analysis and evaluation of biological quality elements (rivers). Implementation of Article 8 of Directive 2000/60/EC.

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The overall objective of the project is the collection and analysis of 4 biological quality elements (BQEs) according to the provisions of the Water Framework Directive, for the biological assessment of river water status.

CLIENT: Water Development Department

REGION: Area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus

TYPE: Ecology

DURATION: 02/2018-01/2020

OTHER PARTNERS: —-

DESCRIPTION:

I.A.CO has signed a contract with the Water Development Department of Cyprus for the biological monitoring of Cyprus rivers, within the framework of the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). The action scheme included the collection and analysis of 4 biological quality elements (BQEs) during 2016 and 2017, according to the provisions of the Directive: Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Fish, Aquatic Macrophytes and Diatoms. Additionally, hydromorphological data and information on the presence of invasive alien species or other important freshwater biota were also collected during field visits.

I.A.CO has completed the sampling campaigns for the years 2018-2019, for all 4 BQEs, utilizing three sampling teams. The BQEs Expert team, which includes scientists from Cyprus, Greece and Italy at the current stage analysing the collected samples and will evaluate the ecological quality of water at each station, based on the national indices implemented for the rivers of Cyprus.

 

Feasibility Study Pedieos River Rehabilitation Project

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The EUPSO (EU Programme Support Office) has undertaken the elaboration of a Feasibility Study (FS) to provide a comprehensive report to decide on measures such as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a Detailed Design and ToRs leading to full Tender Documentation for a potential “Pedieos River Rehabilitation Project”. This is a Bi-Communal project with the physical project spanning both sides of the political divide, and as such is of great importance to all, involving at the same time the inherent sensitivities due to this very fact.

CLIENT: EUPSO

REGION: Cyprus

TYPE: Hydrological, Hydraulic, Hydrogeological and Geological Studies / Ecology

DURATION: 07/2018 – 09/2018

OTHER PARTNERS: –

DESCRIPTION:

The rehabilitation works involved surveying, ecological habitat mapping, hydrological river analysis, architectural design and construction of river rehabilitation infrastructures. These mainly included flood protection works, protection/improvement of the hydro-morphological and ecological features of the river, construction of a walking/bicycle path and various pedestrian bridges at strategic points along a length of approximately 4640m, at the initial phase, of river bed. Of this length, 850m is currently in the “Buffer Zone” (BZ), and a further 390m is located south of the BZ.

For achieving the above, a team of experts with key experience in river rehabilitation and linear park development, suitable in executing such a project at the highest possible quality was formed. The development of such a project required a stepwise approach, with discreet tasks that led to a masterplan design of a linear park along the Pedieos River. The linear park will be based on ecological and hydrological assessments, and hydraulic analysis of selected river cross sections vulnerable to flooding, based on topographical surveys. These will be fed into the architectural designs of the walking/bicycle path in order to ensure their safe construction and use.

“Addressing needs in an engineering sound and environmentally sustainable manner.”

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