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Adaptive design of flood defence systems and structures
Left the three design loops right the 7 steps of the Hydraulic Engineering Design Method.
Left the three design loops right the 7 steps of the Hydraulic Engineering Design Method.
Overview of Rijnmond-Drechtsteden region showing the existing dikes, location and a picture of the Maeslant storm surge barrier (retrieved and modified from Hollandia Services)
Overview of Rijnmond-Drechtsteden region showing the existing dikes, location and a picture of the Maeslant storm surge barrier (retrieved and modified from Hollandia Services)
The Rotterdam-Rijnmond flood defence system.
The Rotterdam-Rijnmond flood defence system.
Overview of the four locations where the available space for the structure (blue and dark green) and potential space for the storage of building materials are marked (yellow and light green). A: Hoek van Holland, B: Maasdijk, C: Petroleumhaven and D: Del.
Overview of the four locations where the available space for the structure (blue and dark green) and potential space for the storage of building materials are marked (yellow and light green). A: Hoek van Holland, B: Maasdijk, C: Petroleumhaven and D: Del.
Considered barrier types.
Considered barrier types.
General layout of one sector of a floating sector gate barrier indicating its main constructive elements.
General layout of one sector of a floating sector gate barrier indicating its main constructive elements.
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Adaptive design of flood defence systems and structures

Rotterdam-Rijnmond and the Maeslant barrier revisted

With the recent Climate Change Conference (COP26) completed in Glasgow, it seems that global leaders still leave us in doubt about their awareness, or willingness and/or ability to tackle climate change. Whatever the success of climate mitigation, adaptation to an uncertain future climate will be required. The uncertainty of our future climate poses specific challenges for engineers. While we do not know how climate change develops further into the future, what its statistics will look like, when we have them available, and how stable they will be, the question arises: what future do we design for? In this paper, we dive into the development of a system-to-structure design of a flood defence system under sea-level rise uncertainty through the application of adaptive designing methods.

Interested to read more? Find the article on the Delta Links publication of December 2021

Ir. Thijs Vrinds (Civil Engineering and Geosciences, TU Delft)

Ir. Richard Roggeveld (SWECO)

Dr. ing. Mark Voorendt (Civil Engineering and Geosciences, TU Delft)

Dr. Ir. Jos Timmermans (Policy Analysis, Technology & Management, TU Delft)

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