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About Wouter Jan Klerk

Wouter Jan Klerk is an expert in flood risk and infrastructure, with a strong focus on connecting advanced risk analyses to practical solutions. Based in the Netherlands, he works on projects worldwide to manage flood risks and understand their impact on vital infrastructure. His strength lies in delivering in-depth, quantitative analyses that are not only scientifically robust but also applicable and relevant for decision-making in practice.

Since 2013, Wouter Jan has been with Deltares, where he leads and contributes to complex projects on flood risk management, and asset management of flood defences. He combines technical expertise with a sharp and practical perspective on applications in asset management and decision-making. This combination makes him a valued partner for clients seeking solutions that are both innovative and feasible.

After completing his Master’s in Hydraulic Engineering at Delft University of Technology, Wouter Jan earned his PhD in 2022 with research on new methods for optimal risk-based decision-making. His doctoral work focused on reinforcement and maintenance of flood defences and resulted in an approach that has been developed further and applied within the Dutch Flood Protection Program. This method helps plan investments in flood protection more intelligently and effectively, with a direct impact on protecting the Netherlands against flooding.

Internationally, Wouter Jan focuses on multi-hazard risk analyses in the context of climate adaptation. He works on solutions for areas with complex infrastructure networks, such as ports, where the challenges of climate change and extreme weather converge. His work contributes to increasing the resilience of critical systems and reducing risks in an increasingly uncertain climate.

With his combination of scientific depth and practical experience, Wouter Jan Klerk drives innovative solutions for flood safety and climate adaptation.

Wouter Jan is also member of International Assembly for Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE) and expert in AWI IWA 50 Hydrological risks.

Some key projects:

  • Product owner of Hydra-Ring, computational core of reliability assessment for flood defences in the Netherlands.
  • Lead expert on development of risk-based optimization of flood defence investments for the Dutch Flood Protection Programme.
  • Lead risk analyst for multi-hazard climate risk & resilience assessment for the Port of Sohar, Oman
  • Flood risk expert for the rehabilitation of the storm water drainage in Beira, Mozambique
  • Lead writer for guidelines for analysis of the failure probability of flood defences in the Netherlands
  • Lead for development of framework of analysis within the ROBAMCI project on asset management for public infrastructure in the Netherlands.

Publications

  1. Risk-based maintenance and inspection of riverine flood defence systems.

    Klerk, W. J., Bergeijk, V. van, Kanning, W., Wolfert, R., & Kok, M.

  2. Decisions on life-cycle reliability of flood defence systems.

    Klerk, W. J.

  3. Value of information of combinations of proof loading and pore pressure monitoring for flood defences.

    Krogt, M. G. van der, Klerk, W. J., Kanning, W., Schweckendiek, T., & Kok, M.

  4. Accuracy of visual inspection of flood defences.

    Klerk, W. J., Kanning, W., Kok, M., Bronsveld, J., & Wolfert, A. R. M.

  5. Optimal planning of flood defence system reinforcements using a greedy search algorithm.

    Klerk, W. J., Kanning, W., Kok, M., & Wolfert, R.

  6. Developments in the management of flood defences and hydraulic infrastructure in the Netherlands.

    Jonkman, S. N., Voortman, H. G., Klerk, W. J., & Vuren, S. van.

  7. The co-incidence of storm surges and extreme discharges within the Rhine–Meuse Delta.

    Klerk, W. J., Winsemius, H. C., Verseveld, W. J. van, Bakker, A. M. R., & Diermanse, F. L. M.

  8. Towards adaptive asset management in flood risk management: A policy framework.

    Sayers, P., Gersonius, B., Heijer, F. den, Klerk, W. J., Fröhle, P., Jordan, P., Ciocan, U. R., Rijke, J., Vonk, B., & Ashley, R.

  9. Impact of including interdependencies between multiple riverine flood defences on the economically optimal flood safety levels.

    Dupuits, E. J. C., Klerk, W. J., Schweckendiek, T., & Bruijn, K. M. de.

  10. Value of Information of Structural Health Monitoring in Asset Management of Flood Defences.

    Klerk, W. J., Schweckendiek, T., Heijer, F. den, & Kok, M.

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