ABPmer also produced innovative computer-generated 3-D images to demonstrate what the proposed changes to the island's coastline would look like.

The project, which is the largest of its kind within Europe, is being driven by DEFRA's European Wildlife Division and Wallasea Farms Ltd, the island's owners.

ABPmer's contribution to the project drew great praise from the project leaders. A spokesman for DEFRA said:

"Compared with similar projects we have been involved in, ABPmer has performed better than other consultants, with the environmental statement and hydrodynamic assessments being the best we've ever had. The computer visualisation also went a long way in assisting with obtaining all consents, licences and planning permission."

ABPmer also recently received high praise for an innovative study carried out on behalf of Heathrow Airport Fuel Company Ltd (HAFCo). ABPmer's expertise was enlisted by HAFCo to satisfy the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) 'Control of Major Accident Hazards' legislation relating to catastrophic failure of aviation fuel-storage facilities.

Working closely with HAFCo, ABPmer was able to demonstrate to the HSE that a major catastrophic release of aviation fuel could be successfully contained. Staff at ABPmer built a scale model to simulate accurately the hydraulic characteristics of a fuel spill from a major event, such as an aeroplane crash, and its subsequent progress away from the fuel-storage facilities.

The high level of detail in the model made the fine-tuning of the containment-structure designs possible.