News

The research programme Biodiversity in Focus has officially started. A broad-based consortium with partners from academia, government, NGO's and industry will collaborate to develop a practical, reliable and cost-effective monitoring strategy to assess biodiversity status at a local level. Biodiversity in Focus is an initiative led by Witteveen en Bos and Deltares.

Dutch cities are increasingly facing foundation problems as a result of low groundwater levels, shrinking clay soils and land subsidence. Climate change is exacerbating these effects. At the same time, municipalities are investing more and more in green infrastructure, such as permeable pavements, rain gardens, swales and enhanced tree planting areas, to improve water management (drought, floodings), reduce heat stress, strengthen biodiversity and more . This raises an important question: what effect does green infrastructure have on soil conditions and foundations? Can it also contribute to protecting foundations?

How long can our clay dykes withstand severe storms with high waves? To make dyke reinforcement more effective, sustainable and efficient, the Brabantse Delta water authority, together with Deltares, Fugro and Arcadis, is investigating how quickly grass-covered clay dykes erode.

Crack formation in clay layers poses a risk to the safety of dykes, as well as to landfills and other hydraulic infrastructure that rely on clay as a sealing or water-retaining layer. When cracks develop, permeability increases and the risk of failure rises. New research by Deltares provides further insight into how clay bends, deforms and ultimately cracks under loading.

Deltares is co-author of the latest Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development report by the UN (UNEP) that warns of the sand gap. This gap results from the fact that humans are currently extracting sand faster than it replenishes in nature. The resulting dilemma we face is that humans depend on ‘dead’ sand for infrastructure and ‘living’ sand for ecosystem services. We must use both in balance with one another to live safely.

Deltares plays a key role in a new European research project, OASIS, coordinated by SYKE, which focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), satellite data and digital innovations to better monitor and predict water quality and ecosystems for the benefit of future water and nature management in Europe.

After more than four decades at the forefront of coastal science and engineering, Dano Roelvink will retire in May as an expert in coastal morphology at Deltares and as Professor of Coastal Engineering and Port Development at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

Due to grid congestion, new residential areas are increasingly unable to obtain a timely connection to the electricity grid. As a result, the delivery of thousands of homes is being delayed, putting pressure on national housing targets.

How recovery following large-scale floods can be better prepared and organised was the focus of a three-day international workshop held this week in Belgium and Germany. Policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Spain, among others, exchanged experiences regarding recent floods and formulated joint recommendations for future-proof recovery policies.

Flooding in Venice is becoming increasingly frequent and poses a growing threat to the city and the lagoon. The cause is relative sea-level rise: a combination of sea-level rise due to climate change and local land subsidence, which has been making Venice more vulnerable for over 150 years. New research by the University of Salento, the University of East Anglia, University of Venice, and Deltares, among others, shows that, in addition to existing protection, further adaptation measures are inevitable to keep Venice liveable in the long term.

A new paper led by Valeria Di Fant (Deltares / Utrecht University) reveals that Europe has far more opportunities to accelerate climate adaptation than usually is recognised. Rather than responding only when climate risks become urgent, the study showcases how political momentum, public support, availability of resources, technological innovation and/or routine maintenance cycles may accelerate adaptation action.

Many innovative ideas start small: at a workbench, in a start-up, or within an SME that has a smart solution for a major societal challenge. But a good idea alone is not enough. The step from innovation to real-world application requires knowledge, testing opportunities and the right partners. That is exactly where the Deltares SME Challenge comes in.