Marine & coastal environment
Marine and coastal environments face increasing pressure from climate change, development and competing uses. We support regulators, developers, operators and communities to understand environmental risks and manage impacts across the full project lifecycle. Using world‑leading hydrodynamics, environmental modelling and marine data, our teams deliver evidence‑led assessments that protect ecosystems, support regulation and enable sustainable, resilient use of marine and coastal environments.
Responding to growing pressure on marine and coastal systems
Coasts and seas are dynamic environments that support ecosystems, communities and economic activity. Climate change, sea level rise, extreme weather, coastal development and offshore infrastructure are increasing pressure on these systems. New developments can influence coastal processes, sediments, water quality and ecosystems, while also being affected by their surroundings. Organisations need sound scientific evidence to balance environmental protection with sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.
Understanding complex environmental interactions and risks
Understanding how physical processes, habitats and human activities interact is central to effective environmental management. Clients face challenges such as assessing cumulative impacts, predicting sediment and water quality changes, protecting sensitive habitats and managing uncertainty over long project lifecycles. These challenges are amplified in estuaries and coastal zones, where natural variability, climate impacts and human pressures combine.
Applying integrated science, modelling and monitoring
We bring together hydrodynamics, geomorphology, water quality and marine ecology to provide a holistic understanding of marine and coastal environments. Our teams apply advanced numerical and physical models, targeted field measurements and long term monitoring to assess baseline conditions, predict change and test management scenarios. We support environmental appraisal, formal environmental impact assessment and post consent monitoring, using tools that model interactions between marine infrastructure and the surrounding environment - including plume dispersion, underwater sound and ecological response.
Supporting sustainable outcomes & environmental resilience
Our evidence‑led approach helps organisations identify potential environmental risks early, develop proportionate mitigation and design interventions that work with natural processes. By improving understanding of climate‑driven change and environmental sensitivity, we support resilient project design, smoother consenting processes and enhanced environmental performance. The result is marine and coastal development that protects ecosystems, supports communities and delivers long‑term sustainability.
Marine & coastal environment expertise
Assess baseline conditions, pressures and potential impacts across physical, chemical and biological marine environments.
Deliver specialist technical assessment to support marine and coastal EIA, consent and regulatory approval.
Model currents, waves, stratification, sediment and water quality processes to evaluate environmental change and risk.
Predict erosion, accretion, scour and seabed change to support sustainable marine and coastal management.
Model thermal, saline, sediment and contaminant dispersion in marine and coastal waters.
Assess underwater sound and vibration propagation from activities such as piling, dredging and construction.
Evaluate habitats and ecological receptors using field surveys, modelling and impact analysis.
Design and deliver targeted physical and environmental monitoring programmes to reduce uncertainty and validate predictions.
Assess climate driven risks to marine and coastal environments and inform adaptation planning.
Define mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures that protect and improve marine environments.
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Tom Matthewson
