References

Project Management

ERFLS - European Rail Freight Line System

The ERFLS project aims to launch an innovative European Rail Freight Line System (ERFLS) in combined rail-freight traffic on the Rhine-Alpine Corridor. ERFLS aims to improve the accessibility of rail transport and the integration of rail transport in innovative multi-modal transport chains by optimization of both regional and intercontinental freight traffic flows, especially in combined traffic. This is done by introducing freight trains running in frequent “Intercity”-like services with multiple short stops at so-called “Smart-Hubs”. We support the international project consortium as an external project and financial manager.

  • Funded by: Connecting Europe Facility
  • Project period: 2016-2018

Web: egtc-rhine-alpine.eu

CODE24 - COrridor 24 DEvelopment Rotterdam-Genoa

CODE24 aimed to combine the economic, transport, environmental and spatial planning along the trans-European transport corridor from Rotterdam to Genoa to an integrated strategy. With its focus on regional development issues and joint inter-regional strategies, the project strengthened in particular the role of regional actors along the corridor.

Our team was responsible for the elaboration of the project idea, the formal submission of the application and acted as project coordinator.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB NWE
  • Poject period: 2010-2015

Web: www.code-24.eu

MAGPlan

MAGPlan (Management Plan to prevent threats from point sources on the good chemical status of groundwater in urban areas) is a LIFE+ funded program run by the city of Stuttgart. It implemented the integral investigation of a diffuse CHC contamination in Stuttgart’s inner city, distributed over a considerable number of single contaminant sites and even impacting the mineral spas. Final achievement is a groundwater management, naming the essential contaminant sources and defining targeted measures to mitigate and remediate the groundwater contamination.

We were involved in the elaboration of the project concept and accompanied the formal project application with our advice. After project approval our task was the external project management. Apart from ongoing time and budget control we performed reporting duties to the European commission, accompanied tendering procedures, prepared and moderated project meetings and contributed to technical publications.

  • Funded by: LIFE+

Project period: 2010-2015

Remediation of Gasworks Gaisburg

The former Gasworks Gaisburg in Stuttgart’ east represents one of the major contaminant sites in Baden-Württemberg. This is due to its massive pollution with contaminants typical for gasworks, its complex geology and its location in the core zone of a medicinal water protection area. Cleanup measures of soil and groundwater, running from 2010 to 2014, received financial support from the Baden Württemberg fund for contaminated sites.

As a project manager on behalf of ENBW AG and LHS Stuttgart we provided our support through all phases of remediation planning and implementation. Apart from the ongoing time and budget control and the preparation and moderation of technical meetings we were contact person for all kinds of technical questions, were in charge of the funding procedure and supervised tenders.

RegioWIN competition entry for the Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar

In the competition of the State of Baden-Württemberg "Regional competitiveness through innovation and sustainability" (RegioWIN), we took over the project steering in the creation of regional development strategy and its elaboration to the regional development concept for the Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar. We’ve compiled a socio-economic as well as a SWOT analysis of the region as a basis for the regional development concept "Smart Innovation, Smart Distribution, Smart Energy". The MRN was chosen with its development concept as a "WINregion" and was awarded two of the flagship projects of the concept.

  • Funded by: EFRE BW
  • Project period: 2013-2014

Web: regiowin.eu

URBAN SMS – Urban Soil Management Strategy

Regardless the fact that soils in urban areas plays a crucial role for environmental conditions and the living quality soils are still seen only as resource for settlement development. Ongoing sealing activities lead to irreversible loss of soils with impact on biodiversity, water balance and climate.

To raise the attention to this topic and to include soil protection issues into the process of urban planning eleven project partners of the URBAN–SMS project committed themselves to elaborate an innovative soil management strategy to be integrated in the urban planning process.

On behalf of the Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital of Stuttgart, ets responsibility in the formal project application included building up work plan, time and budget planning as well as phrasing text for the project proposal. After its approval, et acted as coordinator of the project.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period.- 2008-2012

Web: www.urban-sms.eu

COBRA MAN – Manager Coordinating Brownfield Redevelopment Activities

Urban regeneration on brownfield land is an important issue especially for the main metropolitan and industrial centres of Europe. Integral management strategies for the revitalization of derelict inner urban areas are scarce and if applied in a very site specific manner, often depending on national approaches. COBRA-Man tackles this issue at European level and established a harmonized management concept. The heart of the concept is the position of a brownfield manager embedded within existing municipal structures to reach most effective urban development. Linking implementation projects with exchange of knowledge between practitioners from all over Europe helped to establish a fast track for transfer of know-how on brownfield management strategies and working skills.

Our role in the project development, application and implementation phases of the project comprised both, the technical aspects as well as the comprehensive project management including reporting and finance management. We delivered our services in these roles for the state capital of Stuttgart (Germany) and city administration of Bydgoszcz (Poland). Project size: about 3,6 million Euro project volume

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period: 2008-2011

Web: www.cobraman-ce.eu

FOKS - Focus on Key Sources of Environmental Risks

FOKS deals with management of groundwater pollution by priority industrial pollutants by taking up innovative tools and strategies transferred to daily practice in groundwater risk management. This strategy facilitates fast implementation and optimal use of research results and it allows the water authorities to build their practical work on a sound scientific basis. FOKS will improve the quality of the groundwater resources by cleaning of existing groundwater damages and by removing sources of contaminated soils. Focusing on the key sources of contamination and the use of innovative techniques leads to a higher efficiency of the remediation efforts. . The project team consists of research institutes and municipalities which were involved in recent research and water authorities ready to make use of these experiences.

Together with the state capital of Stuttgart and the partnership of cities and academics from various central European countries we developed a concept for a funding in the EU programme Interreg IVB CENTRAL. We took a leading role in the partner search and application phase as well as during project implementation, when our tasks comprised both the technical aspects as well as the comprehensive project management. Project size: about 3,3 million Euro project volume

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period: 2008-2011

Web: www.projectfoks.eu

SufalNet4EU – Sustainable Use of Former and Abandoned Landfills for You

SufalNet4EU is a Network of 15 local and regional authorities transforming closed landfill sites in public park, sports facilities for biking and golf, dog shelter, solar- and wind park and commercial area. SufalNet4EU is closed. It has resulted in Action Plans describing development proposals for 29 sites. You can download Action Plans and their summaries from the website.

Our role was the support of the 2 German project partners AVL Ludwigsburg and Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb Böblingen on technical and project management issues.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVC
  • Project period: 2010-2012

Web: www.sufalnet4.eu

PROSIDE – Promoting Sustainable Inner Urban Development

The overall objective of the project was to ensure coherency and compatibility between private investors’ plans and municipal needs for sustainable urban development within a short and appropriate timeframe while enhancing the remediation of industrial sites using private funds. PROSIDE aimed to support spatial planning policy on prevention or mitigation of environmental damage. We took over the project management and developed best-practice studies on behalf of the UW Umweltwirtschaft GmbH Stuttgart.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IIIB CADSES
  • Project period: 2003-2006

Web: www.proside.info

MAGIC – Management of Groundwater at Industrially Contaminated Areas

The project was designed to promote sustainable spatial development by the abatement of large groundwater pollutions by applying the innovative, integral, emission-orientated management approach. On behalf of the Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital of Stuttgart, we supported the city in the development and submission of the project idea. After the approval of funding, we initiated the transnational technical cooperation between the partners and developed the final handbook.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IIIB CADSES
  • Project period: 2005-2008

Web: www.magic-cadses.com

REVIT – For more effective and sustainable brownfield revitalisation policies

Between 2003–2007, six North West European partners have come together to improve regenerating their brownfield sites by sharing experience and developing new concepts and innovative approaches. et was responsible for the entire project management and coordination of transnational activities on behalf of the state capital Stuttgart.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IIIB NWE
  • Project period: 2003-2007

Web: http://3b.nweurope.eu/page/projet.php?p=31&id=531

INCORE – INTEGRATED CONCEPT for GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION

Groundwater pollution in industrialized sites is a general problem in a variety of European cities. Most of them are located in river basins and use groundwater for water supply from local shallow aquifer systems. INCORE aimed at providing a cost-efficient technical-administrative set of tools to optimize investigation, evaluation and management of contaminated groundwater and land in urban industrial areas, considering regional aspects such as complex land-use patterns, land-use specific contamination and the extent of urban industrial areas.

Dr. Thomas Ertel acted as responsible project manager under UW Umweltwirtschaft GmbH and led technical tasks related to the identification of the key sources of contamination and their liable polluters.

  • Funded by: 5. Forschungsrahmenprogramm
  • Project period: 2000-2004

Web: www.umweltwirtschaft-uw.de/incore

Project Funding

LALA - Charging Vehicles on Streetlamps in Esslingen

With the pilot project LALA, the city of Esslingen intends to verify the need for low-cost charging infrastructure, to test technical solutions and to prepare further implementation throughout the city. The masts of streetlamps in the area of Neuffenstrasse should provide the opportunity to charge electric vehicles while parking at the roadside. Accompanying research at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences deals with aspects of acceptance research and energy monitoring.

Our team supported the city of Esslingen in preparing the project outline for the first of the two application stages.

 

ELFE - Electrification of the Municipal Fleet of Esslingen

The city of Esslingen am Neckar has been pursuing the development of sustainable urban mobility for quite some time. To curb the negative consequences of the current traffic situation in Esslingen, i.a. the systematic implementation of the gradual transition of the municipal fleet to e-vehicles shall be continued.Our team supported the city of Esslingen in the preparation of the funding application for the purchase of the planned e-vehicles.

 

RAISE-IT - Rhine-Alpine Integrated and Seamless Travel Chain

The project deals with the integration of high-speed rail along the Rhine-Alpine corridor through multi-level accessibility. Basic assumption is that the improvement of the average travel time by integrating the high-speed traffic on several levels - in the nodes, with the regional transport and cross-border between nodes - do more to improve accessibility along the transport corridor than just reaching the maximum speed.

Our team supported the project consortium in developing and successful submission of the grant application.

  • Funded by: Connecting Europe Facility
  • Project period: 2016-2019
  • Web: egtc-rhine-alpine.eu
CCP – Rhine-Alpine Corridor Capacity Platform

The initiative aims to improve cooperation between the infrastructure and logistics actors along the Rhine-Alpine corridor. The existing capacity shall be optimized and thus create a basis for a cross-regional CO2 reduction strategy. et supported the project consortium in development and submission of the project proposal in the first application stage in the Interreg VB NWE programme.

SLS – Smart Local Supply

Due to demographic changes rural areas are facing radical changes. The project addresses challenges in social innovation combined with capacity for innovation and competitiveness of small & medium service providers. The project aims at establishing SLS-solutions based on hybrid markets combining physical and digital elements. This helps to avoid lacks of supply and will substantially improve quality of life in rural areas. Small and medium-sized local service providers increase their innovative capacities by implementing SLS tools. The project contributes to inclusive and sustainable growth.

Partner regions involved are Rhein-Neckar-Kreis and Nordhessen(DE), Hageland Region(BE), Alsace Region(F) and Province of Gelderland(NL). Our services for the LeadPartner Rhein-Neckar-Kreis included project development and the full application package for submittal to INTERREG VB NWE.

Stadt Ulm, Evaluierung potenzieller Fördermöglichkeiten zur Altlastensanierung auf einem Industrieareal, 2015

The city of Ulm plans to convert an industrial district into a housing development. This requires extensive soil and groundwater remediation measures for which tremendous costs are expected. We elaborated a survey about potential funding options and evaluated their specific applicability on the site.

AMOD – Academy for Sustainable Mobility in the Danube Region

The project shall initiate the creation of an academy for sustainable mobility in the EU Danube Macro-Region. It aims to exchange and training of persons responsible for mobility planning at professional level of public administration at local, regional or national level in the countries of the Danube Region. In particular, concepts for sustainable connectivity of rural areas to the main routes shall be developed and implemented. Together with our partner pakora.net, we supported the project consortium on behalf of the Ministry of Transport Baden-Württemberg in project development and submission of the grant application to Interreg VB DTP.

AMIIGA - Integrated Approach to Management of Groundwater Quality in Functional Urban Areas

Groundwater contamination is a problem that goes beyond administrative boundaries of a local public authority. AMIIGA project tackles in particular the problem of groundwater contamination originating from brownfield sites. The AMIIGA project focusing on integrated assessment, remediation and management strategies intends to build on the innovative instrument “groundwater management plan”.. Key elements of this integrated management instrument are characterization, remediation and monitoring plus the management strategy and the plan itself.

We provided both technical and project development support to a wide consortium of partners from the CENTRAL European region for application under the INTERREG VB CENTRAL programme.

CODE24 - COrridor 24 DEvelopment Rotterdam-Genoa

CODE24 aimed to combine the economic, transport, environmental and spatial planning along the trans-European transport corridor from Rotterdam to Genoa to an integrated strategy. With its focus on regional development issues and joint inter-regional strategies, the project strengthened in particular the role of regional actors along the corridor.

Our team was responsible for the elaboration of the project idea, the formal submission of the application and acted as project coordinator.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB NWE
  • Poject period: 2010-2015
  • Web: www.code-24.eu
MAGPlan

MAGPlan (Management Plan to prevent threats from point sources on the good chemical status of groundwater in urban areas) is a LIFE+ funded program run by the city of Stuttgart. It implemented the integral investigation of a diffuse CHC contamination in Stuttgart’s inner city, distributed over a considerable number of single contaminant sites and even impacting the mineral spas. Final achievement is a groundwater management, naming the essential contaminant sources and defining targeted measures to mitigate and remediate the groundwater contamination.
We were involved in the elaboration of the project concept and accompanied the formal project application with our advice. After project approval our task was the external project management. Apart from ongoing time and budget control we performed reporting duties to the European commission, accompanied tendering procedures, prepared and moderated project meetings and contributed to technical publications.

  • Funded by: LIFE+
  • Project period: 2010-2015
RegioWIN Wettbewerbsbeitrag der Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar

In the competition of the State of Baden-Württemberg "Regional competitiveness through innovation and sustainability" (RegioWIN), we took over the project steering in the creation of regional development strategy and its elaboration to the regional development concept for the Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar. We’ve compiled a socio-economic as well as a SWOT analysis of the region as a basis for the regional development concept "Smart Innovation, Smart Distribution, Smart Energy". The MRN was chosen with its development concept as a "WINregion" and was awarded two of the flagship projects of the concept.

  • Funded by: EFRE BW
  • Project period: 2013-2014
  • Web: regiowin.eu
CityChlor - taCkling urban soIl and groundwater conTamination caused bY CHLORinated solvents

CityChlor was a transnational cooperation project (INTERREG VI B) running from 2009 till October 2013, that aimed to improve the quality and minimize the pollution of soil and groundwater. Key element of the project is an integrated approach to tackle the threats caused by contamination with chlorinated solvents in urban areas.

Project partners from Belgium, France, Germany and The Netherlands worked together in the necessary complementary team. We supported this team in the application phase and during implementation the 2 German partners Stuttgart and ITVA in reporting and finance management issues.

COBRA MAN – Kommunales Flächenentwicklungsmanagement

Urban regeneration on brownfield land is an important issue especially for the main metropolitan and industrial centres of Europe. Integral management strategies for the revitalization of derelict inner urban areas are scarce and if applied in a very site specific manner, often depending on national approaches. COBRA-Man tackles this issue at European level and established a harmonized management concept. The heart of the concept is the position of a brownfield manager embedded within existing municipal structures to reach most effective urban development. Linking implementation projects with exchange of knowledge between practitioners from all over Europe helped to establish a fast track for transfer of know-how on brownfield management strategies and working skills.

Our role in the project development, application and implementation phases of the project comprised both, the technical aspects as well as the comprehensive project management including reporting and finance management. We delivered our services in these roles for the state capital of Stuttgart (Germany) and city administration of Bydgoszcz (Poland). Project size: about 3,6 million Euro project volume

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period: 2008-2011
  • Web: www.cobraman-ce.eu
FOKS - Focus on Key Sources of Environmental Risks

FOKS deals with management of groundwater pollution by priority industrial pollutants by taking up innovative tools and strategies transferred to daily practice in groundwater risk management. This strategy facilitates fast implementation and optimal use of research results and it allows the water authorities to build their practical work on a sound scientific basis. FOKS will improve the quality of the groundwater resources by cleaning of existing groundwater damages and by removing sources of contaminated soils. Focusing on the key sources of contamination and the use of innovative techniques leads to a higher efficiency of the remediation efforts. . The project team consists of research institutes and municipalities which were involved in recent research and water authorities ready to make use of these experiences.

Together with the state capital of Stuttgart and the partnership of cities and academics from various central European countries we developed a concept for a funding in the EU programme Interreg IVB CENTRAL. We took a leading role in the partner search and application phase as well as during project implementation, when our tasks comprised both the technical aspects as well as the comprehensive project management. Project size: about 3,3 million Euro project volume

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period: 2008-2011
  • Web: www.projectfoks.eu
URBAN SMS – Strategie zum Management von Böden in urbanen Räumen

Regardless the fact that soils in urban areas plays a crucial role for environmental conditions and the living quality soils are still seen only as resource for settlement development. Ongoing sealing activities lead to irreversible loss of soils with impact on biodiversity, water balance and climate.

To raise the attention to this topic and to include soil protection issues into the process of urban planning eleven project partners of the URBAN–SMS project committed themselves to elaborate an innovative soil management strategy to be integrated in the urban planning process.

On behalf of the Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital of Stuttgart, ets responsibility in the formal project application included building up work plan, time and budget planning as well as phrasing text for the project proposal. After its approval, et acted as coordinator of the project.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period.- 2008-2012
  • Web: www.urban-sms.eu
EUBRA – European Brownfield Agenda – Europäisches Netzwerk zum Flächenrecycling

EUBRA was aimed to assess and evaluate the manifold methodological innovations of recent years in Europe and to identify the need for action for future activities, especially in the wake of INTERREG - European programmes for transnational cooperation. We developed the project concept, undertook the preparation, implementation and evaluation of two workshops and the publication of a brownfields agenda, together with a team of four international experts.

  • Funded by: Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Affairs
  • Project period: 2006-2007
ALIVE – ALles Ist VErwertbar

ALles Ist VErwertbar presented a new waste management concept by establishing a simplified collection system to be tested in a pilot area. It enables an increased efficiency by

  • simplifying the collection system to enhance acceptance in the population and avoid misuse
  • maximise recycling and recovery rates by testing and applying innovative treatment processes
  • increase energy efficiency.

We supported our client in conception of the project idea, definition of targets and application for EU funding.

  • Funding scheme: LIFE+
  • Year of contract: 2011
JOINT – Joint Technical Approach for Soil and Groundwater Quality Management – Technische Aspekte des stofflichen Boden- und Grundwasserschutzes

This project was an activity for the coordination and cooperation of research activities in the field of soil and groundwater protection in the interim period between the 5th and 6th framework programme. We initiated and led this project (mostly as employees of the Company UW GmbH). This included the organization of a workshop series on research management and the publishing of guidance documents for future research needs in the field of soil and groundwater protection.

  • Funded by: 5. Forschungsrahmenprogramm der EU
  • Project period: 2003-2006
Workshop „Tackling aircraft noise at residential areas“

On behalf of the Regional Association FrankfurtRheinMain, we’ve organized a workshop with international participants to work on a common project idea to reduce the effects of aircraft noise in public facilities such as schools, kindergartens, as well as to screen possible funding programmes.

Expert Activity

Biomarker-Analysis Schweizerische Bundesbahn

A groundwater oil contamination detected in spring 2006 was investigated to clarify whether it was part of a known old contamination from 1971, identified in 1999. The biological marker interpretation (GC-MS Fingerprinting) showed that the contamination had different components: an old one, clearly attributable to 1971 and additionally a younger component from a newer date.

Characterization of contaminated groundwater from industrial sites in Italy by forensic fingerprinting, 2005-2007

Contaminated groundwater from two industrial sites and one refinery in Italy was characterized by forensic fingerprinting methods, combining biomarker analysis and compound specific isotope analysis. Different source and plume areas were identified and delineated as well as distinguished by determining their age. Investigations included contaminations by mineral oil, chlorinated ethenes and ethanes, chlorobenzenes and heavy metals.

Evaluation of a CHC contamination on an industrial site in Stuttgart, 2007

Investigations by compound specific isotope analysis on a CHC contaminated former industrial site in Stuttgart clarified the question whether a downstream contamination had its origin on the site. Based on a detail evaluation from results of two investigation campaigns different CHC contaminated areas could be delineated and distinguished by their age. Part of them could be correlated to the downstream contamination.

Expert Service in arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce

Matter of dispute is the identification of polluters in two large chemical factories, both of them operating since more than hundred years. At both sites multiple chemical agents were used. They result in a very serious, far-reaching contamination of soil and groundwater, covering several groundwater stories and extending several kilometers downstream. Contaminations consist mainly of chlorinated hydrocarbons, chromium, organic lead and mercury.

We deliver comprehensive technical expert services concerning history of contamination, fate and transport of pollution, remediation as well as the identification of key source areas and their liable polluters.

Ancient Gasworks Gaisburg, Groundwater Monitoring, since 2008

Remediation measures at the Gasworks Gaisburg were and are still accompanied by a groundwater monitoring on selected wells in their up- and downstream. We have been supervising these measures since 2008 and evaluate the results regularly by assessing the spatial contaminant distribution and development of contaminant plumes.

Advance ETV Coordination Action on Environmnetal Technology Verification

Demo Conte

AdvanceETV was a coordination action on Environmental Technology Verification (ETV). The overall target of AdvanceETV was to bring together the already proposed schemes and protocols prepared within the previous EU ETV activities and to link them with outcomes of already existing ETV systems worldwide. Furthermore, AdvanceETV aimed at building an international framework for cooperation and mutual recognition by supporting the cooperation of the European Commission and the international ETV activities, e.g. the International Working Group (IWG) on ETV.

AdvanceETV consolidated stakeholder feedback of RTD and EC activities and integrated experiences out of the CEN workshop agreement (CWA) elaboration and use. To foster recognition by harmonisation, a standardisation framework was identified for international recognition of the different verification procedures. Cross cutting issue workshops ensured feedback and exchange between these different areas. An expert board with ETV system representatives from Canada, U.S., South Korea, Japan, and other provided the direct link to international ETV activities and the IWG on ETV, which was crucial to bring forward mutual recognition, to support cooperation by co-/joint verification and to promote harmonisation.

  • Funded by: 7. Forschungsrahmenprogramm der EU
  • Project period: 2009-2012

Web: www.eu-etv-strategy.eunt

COBRA MAN – Manager Coordinating Brownfield Redevelopment Activities

Urban regeneration on brownfield land is an important issue especially for the main metropolitan and industrial centres of Europe. Integral management strategies for the revitalization of derelict inner urban areas are scarce and if applied in a very site specific manner, often depending on national approaches. COBRA-Man tackles this issue at European level and established a harmonized management concept. The heart of the concept is the position of a brownfield manager embedded within existing municipal structures to reach most effective urban development. Linking implementation projects with exchange of knowledge between practitioners from all over Europe helped to establish a fast track for transfer of know-how on brownfield management strategies and working skills.

Our role in the project development, application and implementation phases of the project comprised both, the technical aspects as well as the comprehensive project management including reporting and finance management. We delivered our services in these roles for the state capital of Stuttgart (Germany) and city administration of Bydgoszcz (Poland). Project size: about 3,6 million Euro project volume

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVB CENTRAL
  • Project period: 2008-2011

Web: www.cobraman-ce.eu

EUBRA – European Brownfield Agenda

EUBRA was aimed to assess and evaluate the manifold methodological innovations of recent years in Europe and to identify the need for action for future activities, especially in the wake of INTERREG - European programmes for transnational cooperation. We developed the project concept, undertook the preparation, implementation and evaluation of two workshops and the publication of a brownfields agenda, together with a team of four international experts.

  • Funded by: Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Affairs

Project period: 2006-2007

SufalNet4EU – Sustainable Use of Former and Abandoned Landfills for You

SufalNet4EU is a Network of 15 local and regional authorities transforming closed landfill sites in public park, sports facilities for biking and golf, dog shelter, solar- and wind park and commercial area. SufalNet4EU is closed. It has resulted in Action Plans describing development proposals for 29 sites. You can download Action Plans and their summaries from the website.

Our role was the support of the 2 German project partners AVL Ludwigsburg and Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb Böblingen on technical and project management issues.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IVC
  • Project period: 2010-2012

Web: www.sufalnet4.eu

JOINT – Joint Technical Approach for Soil and Groundwater Quality Management – Technische Aspekte des stofflichen Boden- und Grundwasserschutzes

This project was an activity for the coordination and cooperation of research activities in the field of soil and groundwater protection in the interim period between the 5th and 6th framework programme. We initiated and led this project (mostly as employees of the Company UW GmbH). This included the organization of a workshop series on research management and the publishing of guidance documents for future research needs in the field of soil and groundwater protection.

  • Funded by: 5. Forschungsrahmenprogramm der EU

Project period: 2003-2006

PROMOTE – Efficiency Control and Performance Verification of Improved Approaches for Soil and Groundwater Protection and Rehabilitation

In the course of implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) of the European Union a Europe-wide verification system for innovative environmental technologies is to be installed. PROMOTE is developing and testing such a verification system exemplary for soil and groundwater protection technologies and initiated a first element of European standardization in this field with the CEN Workshop Agreement.

The project idea was developed and applied together with DECHEMA. During the project lifetime, we were working as a project partner and were responsible for the development of test systems for soil and groundwater assessment technologies.

  • Funded by: 6. Forschungsrahmenprogramm der EU
  • Project period: 2005-2008

Web: www.promote-etv.org

MAGIC – Management of Groundwater at Industrially Contaminated Areas

The project was designed to promote sustainable spatial development by the abatement of large groundwater pollutions by applying the innovative, integral, emission-orientated management approach. On behalf of the Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital of Stuttgart, we supported the city in the development and submission of the project idea. After the approval of funding, we initiated the transnational technical cooperation between the partners and developed the final handbook.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IIIB CADSES
  • Project period: 2005-2008

Web: www.magic-cadses.com

PROSIDE – Promoting Sustainable Inner Urban Development

The overall objective of the project was to ensure coherency and compatibility between private investors’ plans and municipal needs for sustainable urban development within a short and appropriate timeframe while enhancing the remediation of industrial sites using private funds. PROSIDE aimed to support spatial planning policy on prevention or mitigation of environmental damage. We took over the project management and developed best-practice studies on behalf of the UW Umweltwirtschaft GmbH Stuttgart.

  • Funded by: INTERREG IIIB CADSES
  • Project period: 2003-2006

Web: www.proside.info

WissTrans – Transfer of knowledge from research into practice

The goal is the development and implementation of practical training sessions and e-learning for improvement and successful establishment of land management and land recycling. Our focus as a project partner is among others on the conceptual development of an e-learning system (ELNAB = E-learning for sustainable brownfield development) and the realisation of the module "Marketing of brownfields."

  • Funded by: Federal Ministry for Education and Research in REFINA grant programme
  • Project period: 2007-2009

Web: www.flaechen-bilden.de

Follow-up of Survey of Potentially Contaminated Sites, Completion of Regional Sites Register

District Heilbronn (2007-2008)

District Main-Tauber (2008-2009)

District Ludwigsburg (2010-2013)

The Follow-Up Surveys were done by searching relevant documents from archives and acquiring data from digital databases to evaluate the contamination status for each single observed site. We did this in cooperation with other consulting engineers, the overall budget ranging between 125.000 Euro and 200.000 Euro.

City of Stuttgart, Quantification of allowances for contaminated sites remediation, 2009-2010

For an assessment of property values we evaluated and quantified the potential efforts for investigation and remediation of 192 contaminated sites and areas of suspected contamination. After having elaborated a working method and evaluation criteria we discussed it with our client to fix a consistent procedure. On this basis we made a comprehensive evaluation of available documents and digital data.

For investigation costs we developed an own calculation procedure using unit prices customary for the relevant services in Stuttgart at that time. For the estimation of remediation costs we used a cost prognosis tool, developed within the EU project PROSIDE.

Investigations for redevelopment of a landfill site, District of Ludwigsburg, 2009-2010

Planning for the development of a new housing area included the area of an ancient landfill for domestic and industrial waste. To decide whether this was a possible option from an environmental point of view, we made a comprehensive inventory of all former investigations and available documents. Additionally we performed own gas extraction tests of several days’ duration.

Based on an evaluation of the results we helped the involved parties to create possible scenarios about conceivable housing developments on selected parts of the ancient landfill. For every scenario we described the required protection measures and estimated the resulting costs.

Investigations for property assessment, District of Esslingen, 2011

An ancient leather manufactory was converted for housing development. We performed targeted investigations to evaluate the environmental risks. The investigation concept based on an extensive historic research about possible activities causing a contamination in the former manufactory. Based on the results, we estimated the waste removal disposal costs for demolition of buildings and soil excavation, hereby taking in account several possible scenarios of housing development.

Consulting Services for Purchase of Properties, District of Goeppingen, 2012/2015

Our client intended to purchase several plots with a suspected underground contamination, due to former industrial activities. We supported his negotiations with the vendor by providing our expertise.

City North of Munich: Plausibility check for Property Purchase, 2014

In course of negotiations for purchase of a former industrial manufacturing and landfill property the vendor provided an extensive expertise to evaluate environmental risks and assess upcoming costs. We checked the plausibility of his elaborations and verified the cost assumptions. Additional own investigations supported our expertise.

Environmental evaluation of a property, definition of polluters, District of Goeppingen, 2015

Comprehensive evaluations and additional own investigations helped us to prove, that the investigated property is not the liable polluter for an existing extensive groundwater contamination.

Industrial Site in Stuttgart – Assessment of underground contaminant, 2016

Our client intended to purchase an industrial site which had been erected on an ancient landfill. We assessed the potential environmental risks on base of historic information and gave our recommendation.

Due-Diligence Investigation on an Industrial Site, District of Esslingen, 2007

We investigated the site of a car component supplier by doing a Due-Diligence Investigation, following two steps. Firstly we performed a mere visual inspection of existing production facilities and the building substance. We evaluated historic documents and reports to assess the efficiency of already performed remediation measures. This led to targeted recommendations for environmental investigations, performed in a second step. The results enabled us to quantify expectable risks and assess the costs for cleanup of soil and building material.

Cluster Management

bwe – Management of the cluster bw-engineers

Since summer 2012, we act as secretariat and cluster manager for bw-engineers, a cluster initiative engineering companies from Baden-Württemberg. bw-engineers bundles consultants of different sizes and disciplines in order to act together under one name in foreign markets. The network now includes more than 1,500 planners and engineers and has so far been operating with great success mainly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the engineers from Baden-Württemberg are active in nearly the entire Gulf region.

The office of Dr. Thomas Ertel as Executive Director coordinates and is responsible for all operational activities in the target countries and the expansion of the network. As cluster manager he is driving the development of the cluster initiative to open up further possibilities and growth in international business for interested midsize offices.

Secretariat of the Interregional Alliance for the Rhine-Alpine Corridor EGTC, since 2016

Since 2016, we serve the EGTC as an external office and are also responsible for the strategic and operational coordination of this international network. It is important for us to find a well-balanced mixture between leadership and the mere provision of services for the network. On the one hand it is important to be a reliable service provider for the members. On the other hand, in many situations proactive management will be required to pave the way for successful solutions together with Managing Committee of the network. This is the basis for our actions.

BIM Open Source – Implementation Network

The Department of Trade and Industry Baden-Wuerttemberg has granted a total sum of 4 million Euro from the funds “Strategy of Digitalization” to help medium-sized businesses in their efforts towards digitalization. Out of 55 projects that have been sketched by research- and transfer-institutions, industrial regulatory bodies, educational institutions, cluster-initiatives and regional networks from Baden-Wuerttemberg, 15 projects have been nominated to submit their funding application.

As a member of the cluster-initiative bw-engineers, et environment and technology is shortlisted by the Department of Trade and Industry with the following project:

“BIM Open Source – Implementation Network” (bw-engineers GmbH):

Set-up of a platform for the transfer and cooperation in regard to Building Information Modeling (BIM) including accompanying measures of training and transfer.

The introduction of BIM in small and medium-sized companies offers the chance

  • to strengthen the companies for a trendsetting technology
  • to create new business models and/or new products/services along the value added chain according to the new market requirements
  • to reach a competitive advantage for international markets by effective and well-timed implementation on the domestic market
  • Web: http://bw-engineers.com
EFRE 2014-2020 Operational Programme „Innovation and Energy Transition“

bw-engineers receive funding for intensifying internationalisation activities

Clustering is a crucial part of Baden-Württemberg’s politics for small and medium-sized businesses. Innovative conceptions and implementations from exemplary projects of cluster-management are being funded.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy promotes the cluster project „Meta-Cluster Engineering“ of the cluster initiative bw-engineers from Stuttgart. For the three-year project about 190.000 Euro are provided by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE).

  • Web: http://bw-engineers.com