Deltares carries out modeling studies at coast of Tunisia

Deltares is currently carrying out numerical modeling studies within the Gulf of Gabes Marine and Coastal Resources Protection Project for Tunisia (part of a Euro 6.3 Millions World Bank funded program). The governmental Tunisian institute INSTM (Institut National des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer) is managing the project and Deltares teamed up with a local consultancy company. The latter is in charge of data gathering and analysis, whereas Deltares activities cover a broad range of modeling exercises, from wave propagation and flow to water quality modeling, and with insights into coastline evolution and morphodynamics.
The project aims at creating  a functional integrated management system, that includes mitigation schemes for sedimentation and management of biodiversity degradation. Specific attention has to be paid to processes occurring in the eastern part of the Bou Ghrara Laguna (see Figure). Littoral drifts occur along the Aghir-Zarzis coast. These  are being southward directed in the North and northward directed in the South and therefore have induced sedimentation along and at the top of the Borj Kastil spit for decades thus endangering the water exchange between the Mediterranean Sea and the Laguna. Deltares will promote the sustainable development of this region, with protection of the environmental, economical and societal values by investigating solutions (e.g. coastal infrastructures) to mitigate sedimentation and to enhance water exchange between the two water bodies.

project location

For more information, please contact Christophe Brière.