CONTRACTOR:
NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN-STIFTUNG NATURSCHUTZ, HEIMAT, KULTUR GMBH

LOCATION:
DROVER HEATH NEAR DÜREN, NRW

TIMEFRAME:
2014 - 2015

BUSINESS AREA:
ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

LOWER:
HANNOVER

The Drover Heath in the district of Düren has been used for military purposes since the end of the 19th century. Due to the specific use of the landscape during training operations, an ecologically valuable area developed in which rare animal and plant species settled.

The area, which covers approx. 680 ha, has served as a local recreation area for walkers, cyclists and horse riders since 2005. The safety concept was developed using an iterative approach: A comprehensive basic evaluation (GE) served to collect and compile the available relevant information from the participating cooperation partners at federal, state and district level and as the basis for a deficit analysis.

In order to clarify the danger situation due to explosive ordnance in Drover Heide, an aerial photo evaluation (LBA) was carried out on the history of military use. The aim was to achieve the most accurate possible representation of danger areas through various causation scenarios for explosive ordnance contamination.

The results (GE/LBA) were combined with the existing documentation on previous explosive ordnance clearance as well as with the current uses (nature conservation and local recreation) and legally examined.

From this, a time and cost plan was developed for the measures that are mandatory for the owner from a liability perspective. The action plan provides a differentiated spatial analysis of risks and obligations and thus a basis for coordination with the responsible regulatory and environmental authorities for the "management" of Drover Heide.