News

Royal Haskoning completed the vital Levee Information Management System (LIMS) Emergency Operations Support module for the South Louisiana Flood Protection Authorities East and West (SLFPA-E & W). Read more

'Before (During) After' is a collection of extraordinary images illustrating the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the vision and work of 12 Louisiana photographers. The exhibition opens on February 17 at the Louisiana State Museum’s Presbytere and will run through August 31. Read more

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans five years ago on Sunday 29 August and since the disaster Royal Haskoning has been working to make the city and the surrounding environments safer for the local communities.

Royal Haskoning was appointed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2005 to advise on flood protection and coastal management for the city. The work has included has included innovative technical solutions for designing and constructing three storm surge barriers and assistance with strategic planning for the area south of New Orleans and the Mississippi River in preparation for strategic decisions by politicians. At the same time, work has been underway on improving the hurricane risk reduction system and introducing an electronic management system for water control structures. The Royal Haskoning project team on site includes experts from Britain and the Netherlands, and coastal and rivers expert, Mathijs van Ledden, is now also part of the crisis team ready to respond in the event of a hurricane. Read more

With partners HKV Lijn in Water and Fugro, Royal Haskoning has won a new contract for water control structures in New Orleans. The project will develop a module that allows the local flood protection authority to monitor the opening and closing of gates on all flood defences. It is expected that the module contributes to a improved planning and coordination. The new system has to be operational for the peak of the hurricane season in September 2010. Read more

Dutch experts from Royal Haskoning, Fugro and HKV demonstrated a digital levee information management system (LIMS) for parts of the flood defense system for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority for the New Orleans East area. The LIMS was developed in close collaboration with the Delfland Water Board. Read more

Royal Haskoning is going to develop a demo version of a digital levee information management system for flood defences in New Orleans, together with its partners Fugro and HKV Lijn in Water. The project is being run for the local flood defence authority – the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority (SLFPA). Dutch expertise in this field is leading to interesting cooperation projects. This week, the SLFPA is visiting the Netherlands to find out more about the existing information systems run by the Delfland Water Board. Read more

Nijmegen/New Orleans, 31 May 2009 – A surge atlas designed and introduced by Royal Haskoning can be used to make an immediate estimate of the maximum water levels and wave heights around New Orleans. With the hurricane season just around the corner (1 June – 30 November), Royal Haskoning is hoping it can make a significant contribution by providing better predictions in order to prevent a disaster like the one in 2005. Royal Haskoning expert Mathijs van Ledden has moreover become a member of the crisis team that acts if a hurricane threatens. Read more

On behalf of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Royal Haskoning is involved in the preparations for the construction of the flood wall that seals off the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) in New Orleans from the Gulf of Mexico in the event of a hurricane. The 3 km flood wall has two navigation gates that can be closed if and when necessary. Royal Haskoning’s role in this project is concerned with the design height, wave forces, navigation and soil protection. It also gives guidance in the discussion about the robustness of this design. Work will officially start 4 December. Read more

Hurricane Gustav is expected to make landfall near New Orleans during the day. The current meteorological forecasts indicate that Gustav will come ashore as a Category 3 hurricane with wind speeds of up to 125 mph. Royal Haskoning employees were evacuated from New Orleans yesterday. If the forecasts are correct, floods along the Louisiana coast cannot be ruled out. Read more

Hurricane Gustav is expected near New Orleans and it may develop into a category 2 or 3 storm. Royal Haskoning employees are also in the area that may be evacuated. The city fears new floods, depending on the route of the storm. It is only possible to say roughly how the hurricane will move one day in advance. Read more