Environment

Three reports were done regarding the access to and improvement of sanitation facilities at popular tourist destinations. A status analysis was conducted throughout the country and cost estimated for future development, maintenance and operations. Proposals for future actions were likewise made.

EFLA did a flood and waterline report with calculations in 16 waterways in North-Norway. The report included cross-sectional measurements and erosion assessment.

The project involved the design of a wastewater treatment plant for the town of Akureyri as well as an environmental impact assessment of the project and various advice on licensing and assessment of the recipient of the wastewater.

The project included design and assistance with development of the Raufarhólshellir cave and surrounding area for tourism. The parking lot was expanded, a service building was built together with all necessary facilities, and trails, pelts and lighting designed inside the cave. 

The aim of the project was to develop the concept of a tunnel for tourists into the Icelandic glacier Langjökull, undertake all preparation and design, and manage the projects. Due to the nature of the project, great emphasis was placed on environmental and security issues. 

The product of the project is an impressive tourist attraction, which has become very popular and received various awards, e.g. EFLA received the prestigious Darc Awards award for the tunnel's lighting design.

EFLA designed a priority bus lane on Miklabraut highway, as well as walking and cycling path, with vegetated noise barrier between the road and the path. 

Located in southeast Iceland's 12,000 km² Vatnajökull National Park, the Skriðuklaustur visitor centre serves both as a display and conference centre. Vatnajökull National Park occupies about 12% of Iceland's total landmass and is Europe's largest national park.

EFLA was commissioned to provide a range of services relating to the design of a critical range of systems used in the visitor centre's structure. 

Linking the towns of Bolungarvík and Ísafjörður in Iceland's West Fjords, the road around the Óshlíð mountain side opened in 1950. Although primitive by today's standards, the road was considered a major project at the time. From the beginning, the road was exposed to avalanches and rock falls. Despite several improvements and mitigations through the decades, in 2008 a decision was made to construct a tunnel to bypass this dangerous road.

EFLA made assessments on traffic noise in various areas of Rogaland state in Norway on behalf of Statens Vegvesen which is the Norwegian Road Administration.

Strategic noise mapping was carried out for the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration and various municipalities, with noise calculations for road traffic noise on the grounds of regulations.

Industrial noise was also assessed.

EFLA created strategies for wind energy utilization to implement in municipal plans already under revision or for municipalities interested in reviewing their policies and strategies in relation to energy utilization.

EFLA was commissioned to provide a range of key design services in the construction of a new residential neighbourhood at Urriðaholt in Garðabær, one of the towns in the Reykjavík conurbation. 

Set in a picturesque natural setting, the development is combined with 1625 residential units, from small apartments to big villas, as well as buildings used for cultural, commercial and service activities.

EFLA, in collaboration with Studio Granda architects, have designed a bridge on the newly constructed road Fellsvegur crossing the Úlfarsá river in a suburb of Reykjavík. The bridge is 46 meters long over three spans, made of concrete. The bridge deck is post-tensioned. 

EFLA, in collaboration with Brownlie Ernst and Marks Architects, has carried out the tender design of a new foot- and cycling bridge at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.

The project also involves the design of a new layout of footways and roads, drainage and lighting systems, a landscaping scheme, new configuration of electrical and communications cabling in the area, geotechnical design, environmental studies and the auditing of existing nearby buildings. 

Tender design of a system of foot- and cycleways, bus lanes, bridges, drainage systems for surface water, cabling and electrics, lighting, landscaping, geotechnics and environmental engineering. 

EFLA was commissioned to conduct a preliminary design of an upgrade of a footpath to a segregated foot- and cycle path in Reykjavík municipality.

The path runs over 8 km from the west part of Reykjavík to the east part, following the coast for much of its route. 

EFLA is currently working on the preliminary design of a new bridge crossing the Ölfusá river, just north of the town of Selfoss in the south of Iceland. The bridge will be a cable stayed bridge, the first of its kind in Iceland. The two main spans of the bridge will be 145 and 155 meters long, the longest bridge spans in Iceland to date. 

Design of a 16.5 km long strip of a new road (Fv715) from Keiserås to Olsøy in Trøndelag in Norway. The road is part of the toll route network "Fosenvegene". 

EFLA, in collaboration with Studio Granda architects, have carried out the design of a footbridge across the Markarfljót river into the Þórsmörk nature reserve in the south of Iceland. The surroundings at the bridge site are mostly untouched by man. 

It has therefore presented a challenge to the project team to provide a design that integrates the bridge with the environment. Strong winds in the area were another key criterion in the design process. 

As a part of a larger project to widen and alter the Reykjanesbraut Highway through Hafnarfjörður town, EFLA, in collaboration with Studio Granda architects, carried out the design of an underpass under the highway. 

The underpass is located at Suðurholt in Hafnarfjörður and improves the pedestrian links between the town's neighbourhoods on both sides of the highway. 

The project constituted project planning, tender and detail design of the Búðarháls HPP Civil Works in addition to diverse consultancy related to the project over its existence. 

EFLA designed a surface water drainage system of the Solasplitten highway in Norway, so that all surface water falling on the road is channelled into sediment ponds before being released into the municipal water system. 

Noise map and sound propagation from drilling sites.

The objective was to prepare a noise map and estimate the sound propagation from drilling sites. 

A system for environmental impact assessment of food and drink products.

The project's goal was to design a harmonized system for environmental impact assessment of food and drink products, providing reliable information for consumers and stakeholders.

EFLA measured and mapped the noise from Hafnarfjörður's harbour activity, because of a new nearby residential area. 

A life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out on electricity transmission via overhead lines (OHL) and underground cables (UGC) in the Icelandic transmission system. 

The project aim was to assess the total environmental impacts of the country‘s electricity transmission system from a life cycle perspective.

EFLA performed a life cycle assessment of electricity generation in two research wind turbines (2 x 900 kW), situated at Hafið by Búrfell in Iceland. 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to assess the environmental impact of a product, process or service from cradle to grave. The standardized method can be used to compare environmental impacts of similar products and services.

Veitur operates a number of sewage systems in the Borgarfjörður region of southwest Iceland serving, among other places, the communities of Bifröst, Hvanneyri, Reykholt and Varmaland.

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed for hydroelectric generation from three different hydropower plants in Iceland operated by Landsvirkjun. 

The assessment was carried out in compliance with international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, identifying different phases or components of the life cycle carrying the heaviest environmental burdens.