With increasing awareness of the value inherent in marine habitats, assessment and monitoring of these habitats often form an integral component of environmental impact and monitoring programmes for coastal development projects.
Due to a paucity of data on marine habitats in the region, environmental impact studies inevitably involve extensive site reconnaissance and the collection of quantitative data to assess the status and extent of the marine habitats. DHI Singapore has been involved in a number of such environmental impact studies, and has thus accumulated experience and technical skills necessary to conduct efficient and reliable studies of these underwater and intertidal environments. Results of the marine habitat surveys are essential in assessing the environmental impacts of the coastal developments, and in formulating appropriate management plans to reduce environmental impacts to acceptable limits.