Home

To acquire the HABITAT software send a request by email to the helpdesk.

Download the tutorial
Input maps exercise 1
Input maps exercise 2
Input maps exercise 3

first acquire the HABITAT software

Dutch product folder (A3)
English product folder (A3)

The Netherlands

Lake IJssel

Lake Marken & lake IJ

Ems-Dollard

Delftland Coast

Other countries

Croatia (Sava river)

United Arab Emirates

More information

Click here for a HABITAT bibliography and HABITAT presentations

Description

In this project the ecological effects in lake IJssel due to changes in water level is studied. Four different water levels are studied from which two below the current water level and two above the current water level. The water levels above the current situation are tested for the situation to use the lake IJssel as a freshwater buffer. HABITAT is used as a tool to quantify the ecological effects.

Description

In this project several measures are studied to make the ecosystems of lake Marken and Lake IJ more resilient. Measures are suggested leading to clear water zones along the coast of North Holland, a smooth transition from clear to silty waters, transition zones between water and land and natural water level fluctuation.
HABITAT is used for a quantitative calculation of the ecological effects of these measures compared to the current situation. Results show that dams, if constructed in the right shape and built on the right location, increase the amount of clear water along the coast of North Holland. This also leads to a silt gradient. Furthermore, construction of shallow zones lead to a better land-water transition and subsequent vegetation development and breeding grounds for birds.

Reference: Haasnoot, M. et al. (2009). Naar een Toekomstbestendig Ecologisch Systeem in het Markermeer en IJmeer. Kwantificering van het effect van de voorgestelde maatregelen met HABITAT. Deltares rapport (DUTCH).

Description

The Ems-Dollard estuary on the Dutch-German border has been and will be subject to a variety of natural and anthropogenic changes. Over the past decades, the ecosystem had to deal with increasing shipping traffic and dredging, as well as industrial effluents and several large engineering projects. Currently, discharges of waste water have decreased, but how will the system cope with climate change, more dredging and more industry? This is studied with an 'effect-chain' approach: First, the effects of changes on the physical components of the system are modelled using hydro- and morphodynamic models (Delft3D), resulting in e.g. an increase in tidal amplitude or turbidity. Second, based on these results, the water quality and presence of algae is modelled. Finally, the outcome of these steps provides the input for the Habitat model, which is used to asses impacts on several key species and WFD-habitats. This physics-based approach makes it possible to study different combinations of changes, meanwhile increasing the understanding of the system by performing a sensitivity analysis.

Description

Along the Delftland coast a new technique for sand suppletion is tried out. It is a mega-suppletion called 'Sand Engine', in which a large amount of sand is dropped at once along the coast creating a broader beach and thereby increasing the ecological value of the area. This sand is then subsequently spread along the coast via natural morphological processes. Simulations are made for 50 years after the sand suppletion and HABITAT was used to gain insight in the vegetation development over time.

Description

The construction or designation of detention areas along lowland rivers is considered along many European rivers. In Croatia HABITAT is used in combination with SOBEK hydrological and water quality to assess impact of water management strategies on vegetation composition and habitats of species. This modelling study focused on the controlled detention area of Lonjsko Polje along the river Sava. The flooding characteristics of the area are assessed in combination with the vegetation development and the transport and storage of sediment and phosphorus. Results of the modelling show that it is not so much the intake capacity that determines the flood duration time of a detention area, but the drainage capacity. A too long
inundation duration following a flood event is shown to lead to major shifts in the vegetation composition

Description

In this project the marine environmental impacts were assessed of the proposed extensions of the Shuweihat Power and Desalination Plant near Abu Dhabi. The study was comprised of a detailed hydrodynamic modeling study, a water quality modeling study as well as an ecological modeling study. HABITAT was used to calculate the ecological impacts on sensitive habitats (coral reef, seagrass, mangrove, macroalgal communities and fringing rock habitat with mixed macroalgal communities).
The study shows that the effects on sensitive habitats ranges from minor adverse impacts (seagrasse, macroalgae, fringing rock habitats) to potentially moderate adverse impacts (coral reef habitats).