Global expertise for tomorrow’s Denmark

As part of a global group with more than 7,000 employees, we can exchange qualifications and experiences that will be relevant for the development of the Danish society in the coming years.

Artelia Group has offices in more than 40 countries and projects in more than 100. In addition to the global geographic presence, the group is in the global major league of engineering consultancy within several areas. For us in Denmark and the rest of the Nordic countries, it means access to expertise that is highly relevant for the development of society.

Large-scale marine engineering

In a flat country like Denmark, an extensive effort to prevent floodings is crucial. Coasts must be protected against rising sea levels and an increased surge risk while the many lowlands must be able to resist extreme rain. Artelia Group constitutes a valuable knowledge bank. In several continents, our foreign colleagues have assisted in climate adaptation of large areas and long stretches of coastal protection. As one of the more spectacular examples, they have analysed the effect of revitalising a historical breakwater system to protect Fort Boyard which is known as the location of a popular TV game show.

The qualifications are manifested physically in an 11,000 m2 hydraulic laboratory in Grenoble. The facilities are used for studying and validating design of complex marine engineering projects such as dams, pumping stations, harbour structures, coastal protection and marine structures. Physical models were used at a reconstruction of Europe’s biggest wastewater treatment plant Sein Laval near Paris. When it comes to size, these projects are in a different category than what we normally see in Denmark.

Our Corporate Technical Director for Water and Drainage Hydraulics Martin Werlin Munk got the same impression when he, out of curiosity, decided to visit Artelia in Hanoi during a vacation in Vietnam :

I was really well received. It was interesting to learn how they handle for instance water supply for a city with twice as many inhabitants as all of Denmark. That tells us something about the scale of Artelia’s projects and the group’s expertise in hydraulics – useful knowledge to have access to in many situations. In Denmark, we are fairly advanced when it comes to climate adaptation, and I believe we can contribute with our experience in return.

Martin Werlin Munk Corporate Technical Director Water and Drainage Hydraulics Copenhagen

Marine structures and wind energy

Dr.techn. Olav Olsen, who is part of Business Unit Nordics, also has hydraulic qualifications. Among other things, the Norwegian engineering company specialises in CFD calculations used in hydraulic computer simulations in 3D of different types of marine engineering. Dr.techn. Olav Olsen has solid experience with offshore projects and other marine engineering assignments. This has enabled them to develop several concepts for fixed and floating wind turbines.

Public transport experts

Infrastructure is another important area where Artelia’s global qualifications are relevant in a Danish context, especially when it comes to public transport which is essential in achieving a more sustainable development. Artelia has experience with everything on tracks – subways and metros, high-speed trains, light rails and traditional trains. Currently, the group is involved in the expansion of Grand Paris Metro.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is another one of our niche areas. Our qualifications in this field played a decisive role in winning the project of designing a new BRT system in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik with our French colleagues.

Gita Monshizadeh, Corporate Technical Director for BIM – Infrastructure, agrees with Martin that combining the foreign expertise with our own creates a value-adding interplay :

Artelia’s strengths when it comes to large infrastructure projects and public transport enable us to bid on projects in an entirely different league. In return, we can contribute with BIM and ICT knowledge. Denmark has a digital edge, and we have made great efforts to develop this area in our own business. For instance, we have chosen to specialise in the international BIM standard ISO 19650 which is gaining importance in many countries outside of Denmark. This helps us export our digital know-how and cooperation across borders.

The BRT system in Reykjavik is a good example of that.

Gita Monshizadeh Corporate Technical Director BIM – Infrastructure Copenhagen