The masterplan accommodates the demands of urban and economic growth, as well as the need for a clean and sustainable living environment. It also incorporates innovations in the areas of construction, environmental protection, water management, architecture and civil engineering.

The Bohai Sea is characterised by a tidal variation of 3m, and a considerable level of salinity and pollution, factors which have posed particular challenges for DHV in planning the reclamation project.

The plan is based on the delta concept and contains typical elements such as ebb and flow, islands, varied nature, ponds and (urban) waterfronts. A square enclosure dam around the area provides for high water protection, prevents the drying out of a large muddy area during low tide, and renders the area resistant to climate change. Locks in the dam will allow for tidal control and guarantee water quality. The dam is based on the classical Dutch ‘polder’ concept.

The new area of land will consist of islands that can be built in a flexible fashion, so that the resulting waterfront can be up to five times larger than that produced by a single large area of land. This extra waterfrontage brings with it a significantly higher land price thus strengthening the project’s economic feasibility.

More recently, the BRR, Indonesia'sAgency for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, which is charged with the reconstruction of Aceh and Nias following recent tsunamis and earthquakes, has awarded a US$ 5m consultancy contract to DHV and a consortium of Indonesian companies, including MLD, DHV’s Indonesian subsidiary.

Nias is an island off the coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean and has a population of about 700,000. Three months after the tsunami of December 2004, the island was hit by an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake caused a great deal of damage and devastated much of the island, including its infrastructure and capital.

DHV is responsible for coordinating the reconstruction of the infrastructure on the island of Nias, which is 120km long and 40km wide. The project involves primarily roads and bridges, but also urban development, drinking water, waste water, drainage and harbours.