cbec eco-engineering

Within geomorphology, cbec has developed a bespoke fluvial audit methodology, a key tool used in contemporary assessments of site conditions and the processes affecting these. It provides a detailed understanding of the linkages between physical form or processes and ecological condition through relatively long sections of a river system and provides a basis for the objective prioritisation of management options. Data then allow cbec to understand catchment-scale patterns in geomorphic process or form and to make robust predictions of how the river environment will respond to restoration or management measures.

cbec is a proven specialist in natural flood management (NFM), providing solutions to reduce flood risk by reinstating or reproducing components of the natural hydrological function present in unimpacted river systems, and has completed a large number of NFM projects across the UK, identifying the potential for sustainable flood risk reduction through a range of practical measures at the catchment scale and designing specific detailed interventions at the local scale.

Hydraulic assessments are one of cbec’s key areas of specialism; the business uses its expertise in computational river modelling to inform the design of environmental restoration projects, modelling flood response, fish passage, aquatic habitat, channel stability and sediment transport processes. It has also developed extensive expertise in modelling large wood structures in rivers.

cbec is at the forefront of fully 2D river and floodplain modelling to assess geomorphic processes, flood risk and natural flood management potential. It also specialises in combined hydraulic and sediment transport modelling to assess bank stability, erosion or scour and channel aggradation and has employed these analyses for perched channels, eroding meanders and scour or aggradation at bridges and to test the effects of barrier removal.

cbec offers a graphic design and illustration option to help visualise a project’s design, working together to produce technically accurate representative illustrations of how clients’ river restoration designs could appear. These illustrations are particularly valuable for stakeholder events and client reports and at community events to communicate ideas and potential results for various projects. The business can also produce more technical graphics for contractors to use for building naturally engineered structures in plan or cross-sectioned form.

cbec provides a range of field services tailored to specific client needs and site conditions, and its team can accommodate services such as topographic and bathymetric surveys, geomorphic surveys, sediment sampling, peatland surveys and meteorological monitoring.

Some of cbec’s clients include Powys County Council, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Groundwork UK, Tweed Forum and Enfield Council.