Gualbert Oude Essink

Expert on groundwater resources in the coastal zone
+31(0)6 305 50 408
gualbert.oudeessink@deltares.nl LinkedIn profileGualbert Oude Essink, PhD (Civil Engineering, Delft University of Technology) is senior hydrogeologist at Deltares and associate professor at the Utrecht University. His drive is to understand complex dynamic groundwater processes in subsiding coastal zones under paleo, anthropogenic, climate change and storm surge conditions, aiming for sustainable management of water resources in coastal zones under different spatial and time scales. Gualbert participates in scientific research programs on groundwater salinity mapping via rapid airborne electromagnetic surveys, smart salinity monitoring (e.g. using fiberglass techniques) and high-performance variable-density groundwater flow and salinity transport modelling. He likes to share knowledge, data and methodologies with colleagues, partners and clients in projects in The Netherlands, Belgium, Vietnam, Egypt and Bangladesh) and on a global level (e.g. the impacts of sea-level rise on groundwater systems in deltaic areas). He is a member of the Scientific Council of Deltares, and programs like ‘Redesign the Dutch Delta’ and ‘Long term delta developments’. Gu gives international courses and keynote lectures at several universities; reviews proposals within scientific programs in The Netherlands, Belgium and Australia; convenes scientific sessions; teaches since 1999 at IHE Delft; publishes in journals; and supervises ~4 MSc students per year and 7 PhD-candidates.
Gu participates in:
– research projects on vulnerable fresh groundwater resources in the Netherlands (NatureCoast, ‘De Zandmotor’), Egypt (Nile Delta), Singapore (Jurong Island), Bangladesh (SWIBANGLA) and Vietnam (UDW Rise and Fall). He leads a Dutch Aquifer Storage & Recovery consortium on promising solutions for local freshwater supply to reduce drought and salinity stresses (www.GO-FRESH.info).
– in the programs FRESHEM Zeeland (Helicopter Electromagnetic survey for fresh-salt groundwater distribution, finished in May 2017) and NWO-STW Water Nexus (project Resource analysis and regional water management). In the latter project, PhD research is supervised on rapid mapping and rapid modeling deltaic areas, and on operational management of regional salt-fresh water resources.
– in the recently launched (per May 2017) TOPSOIL FRESHEM Vlaanderen, a INTERREG VB programme.
– in a project on fresh groundwater reserves in 40 major deltas under global and climate change since May 2015.
Gu gives international courses and keynote lectures, convenes sessions on congresses, teaches at UNESCO-IHE Delft, publishes in journals and supervises seven PhD-students.
Working experience
2014-present | Utrecht University, The Netherlands | Supervising PhDs, guest lectures |
2007-present | Deltares | Senior expert in fresh-salt groundwater in the coastal zone, variable density groundwater modeling, interaction groundwater – surface water |
2002-2007 | TNO, The Netherlands | Groundwater modeling; expert in salt-fresh groundwater interaction |
2002-2004 | Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Senior expert, work package leader: EC-project CRYSTECHSALIN (Crystallisation Technologies for Prevention of Salt Water Intrusion) |
2001-2002 | Freelance Specialist Hydrology | Specialist fresh-saline groundwater modelling: case-study of the Water Board Rijnland and the Wieringermeerpolder |
1999-present | UNESCO-IHE Delft (International Institute for Infrastructural Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering) | Lecturer: Density dependent groundwater flow |
1997-2002 | University of Utrecht, The Netherlands | Assistant Professor Hydrological Transport Processes |
1989-1996 | Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands | PhD-student on 'Impact of sea level rise on groundwater flow regimes. A sensitivity analysis for the Netherlands' |
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Water Nexus - salt-containing water as a new driver for economy in delta areas: project “Resource analysis and regional water management”
2015-2018
Client: NWO STW (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
Main project features (3 PhD topics):
• Rapid modelling: developing a toolbox for quick and comprehensive model construction and scenario development, enabling identification of vulnerabilities and opportunities for water distribution control, and the robustness of the water system against autonomous and anthropogenic changes.
• Rapid mapping: combining readily available global data and (a minimum of) earthbound data into models for accurate monitoring and prediction of spatial distribution
• Operational management of regional salt-fresh water resources
Positions held: Co-promotor three PhDs
Activities performed: Responsible for modelling tools and giving direction to research -
Rise and fall: strategies for the subsiding and urbanising Mekong Delta (Vietnam) facing increasing water levels, land subsidence and salt water intrusion
Vietnam, 2014-2018
Client: NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
Main project features: to enhance the capabilities of individuals and organisations to develop sustainable strategies for dealing with groundwater extraction, land subsidence and salt water intrusion in the increasingly urbanising Mekong Delta.
Positions held: Work package leader and Co-promotor PhD on salt water intrusion in groundwater
Activities performed: Responsible for coupling modelling tools on land subsidence and salt water intrusion
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NatureCoast: Understanding of the hydrogeological processes that are associated with mega-nourishments
2013-2017
Client: NWO STW Perspectief 2012
Main project features: monitoring and modelling the expected changes in the distribution of fresh and salt groundwater in the Sand Engine (a mega- nourishment off the coastline of South-Holland):
Positions held: Co-promotor Hydrogeology PhD
Activities performed: Daily Supervision PhD
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Exploring groundwater resources on Jurong Island, Singapore
Singapore, 2013-2014
Client: PUB (Public Utilities Board)
Main project features: To assess the feasibility of extracting fresh groundwater water from Jurong Island, assessing the change of the fresh-salt water interface for different scenarios, including a subsidence module.
Positions held: Hydrogeological expert, advisor numerical modelling variable-density groundwater
Activities performed: Modelling salt water intrusion and assessing risks of upconing
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SWIBANGLA: mitigating salt water intrusion in the coastal zone of Bangladesh
2013-2014, Bangladesh
Client: IRC (International Water and Sanitation Centre)
Main project features: The goal of the project is to investigate the impacts of salt water intrusion in Bangladesh, the main salinization processes, possible mitigation strategies, and the needed tools to provide input to the Water Safety Plans (WSP). The main outcomes of the project are: Key components on salinization issues for Water Safety Plans, suitable mitigation strategies to mitigate the impacts of salt water intrusion, a regional 3D variable-density dependent groundwater model, a Water Quality Monitoring kit, a Smart Phone App to measure Electrical Conductivity, Leaflets containing salinization processes information and Workshops on Modeling and Monitoring.
Positions held: Scientific reviewer
Activities performed: Responsible for management activities (coordination, reporting), responsible for progress of project, supervising modelling, time management -
Go Fresh: Measures local freshwater supply SouthwestenDelta
The Netherlands, 2012-2017
Client: Knowledge for Climate
Main project features: GO-FRESH: Geohydrological Opportunities FRESH water supply
Main goal within GO-FRESH is to improve the use of existing fresh groundwater resources and create new freshwater reserves, thereby increasing regional self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on external freshwater supply. Research already takes place on theoretical feasibility of possible measures. Building on this knowledge, the research goals are: to investigate which measures actually ‘work’ in practice, and to analyse whether such measures are economically feasible. The promising technologies are:
• Showcase ‘The Freshmaker’; aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) utilizing the potential of sandy creek ridges for water storage
• Showcase ‘Creek Ridge Infiltration Test’; infiltration via drainage utilizing the potential of sandy creek ridges for water storage
• Showcase ‘Drains2Buffer’; optimizing the freshwater volume in shallow rainwater lenses
Positions held: Project Leader
Activities performed: Responsible for management activities (coordination, reporting), responsible for progress of project, time management -
Netherlands Hydrological Modelling Instrumentarium for Fresh-Salt Groundwater in the Coastal Zone
The Netherlands, 2007-2009
Client: De Waterdienst, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management
Main project features: Development of a 3D model of Fresh-Salt Groundwater in the Coastal Zone, assessing the effect of climate change on freshwater resources, change in salt load to surface water systems
Positions held: Project Leader Fresh-Saline Groundwater model
Activities performed: Manager of project, advice, time manager, expert advice on creation of the model
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Salinisation of phreatic groundwater in the Province of Zeeland: a study on strategic water resources management in a changing environment. The focus is on water system analysis of groundwater and surface water resources at the Dutch coastal zone, for both quantity as well as quality issues
The Netherlands, 2005-2009
Client: Province of Zeeland
Main project features: extensive monitoring campaign, 3D modelling tools for a 3D regional variable-density groundwater flow system
Positions held: Project leader
Activities performed: Overall manager of project, advice, time manager, expert advice on monitoring campaign and the creation of the 3D model
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EC-project: Crystallisation Technologies for Prevention of Salt Water Intrusion.
The Netherlands, 2002-2004
Client: European commission
Main project features: The objective of the project is to develop and test a new cost efficient and environmental-friendly technology to reduce and prevent salt water intrusion into aquifers.
Positions held: Work package leader
Activities performed: water system analyses, conceptualization of salinity processes, development of a 3D numerical model describing groundwater flow and grouting processes at an Italian test site (near Bari)
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Increasing a freshwater lens below a creek ridge using a controlled artificial recharge and drainage system: a case study in the Netherlands
Pauw, P.S., Van Baaren, E.S., Visser, M. De Louw, P.G.B., Oude Essink, G.H.P., 2015, Increasing a freshwater lens below a creek ridge using a controlled artificial recharge and drainage system: a case study in the Netherlands, Hydrogeology Journal
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Dunne regenwaterlenzen in zoute kwelgebieden
De Louw, P.G.B., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Eeman, S., Van Baaren, E.S., Vermue, E., Delsman, J.R., Pauw, P.S., Siemon, B., Gunnink, J.L., Post, V.E.A., 2015, Dunne regenwaterlenzen in zoute kwelgebieden, Landschap, 32, 5-15.
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Integrated assessment of variable density–viscosity groundwater flow for a high temperature mono-well aquifer thermal energy storage (HT-ATES) system in a geothermal reservoir
Zeghici, R.M., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Hartog, N., & Sommer, W. 2015. Integrated assessment of variable density–viscosity groundwater flow for a high temperature mono-well aquifer thermal energy storage (HT-ATES) system in a geothermal reservoir. Geothermics, 55, 58–68
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Low-Resolution Modeling of Dense Drainage Networks in Confining Layers
Pauw, P.S., van der Zee, S.E.A.T.M., Leijnse, A., Delsman, J.R., De Louw, P.G.B., de Lange, W.J., Oude Essink, G.H.P. 2014. Low-Resolution Modeling of Dense Drainage Networks in Confining Layers, Ground water, 1-11
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An operational, multi-scale, multi-model system for consensus-based, integrated water management and policy analysis: The Netherlands Hydrological Instrument
De Lange, W.J., Prinsen, G.F., Hoogewoud, J.C., Veldhuizen, A., Verkaik, J., Oude Essink, G.H.P., van Walsum, P.E.V., Delsman, J.R., Hunink, J.C., Massop, H.T.L., Kroon, T., 2014. An operational, multi-scale, multi-model system for consensus-based, integrated water management and policy analysis: The Netherlands Hydrological Instrument. Environmental Modelling & Software 59, 98–108
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Regional scale impact of tidal forcing on groundwater flow in unconfined coastal aquifers
Pauw, P.S., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Leijnse, A., Vandenbohede, A., Groen, J., van der Zee, S.E.A.T.M. 2014. Regional scale impact of tidal forcing on groundwater flow in unconfined coastal aquifers, J. Hydrology, 517, 269–283
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Paleo-modeling of coastal saltwater intrusion during the Holocene: an application to the Netherlands
Delsman, J.R., Hu-a-ng, K.R.M., Vos, P.C., de Louw, P.G.B., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Stuyfzand, P.J., & Bierkens, M.F.P. 2014. Paleo-modeling of coastal saltwater intrusion during the Holocene: an application to the Netherlands. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 18(10), 3891–3905
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Uncertainty estimation of end-member mixing using generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE), applied in a lowland catchment
Delsman, J.R., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Beven, K.J., Stuyfzand, P.J. 2013. Uncertainty estimation of end-member mixing using generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE), applied in a lowland catchment, Water Resour. Res., 49, 4792–4806
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Modelling climate change effects on a Dutch coastal groundwater system using airborne Electro Magnetic measurements
Faneca Sànchez, M., Gunnink, J.L., van Baaren, E.S., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Siemon, B., Auken, E., Elderhorst, W., de Louw, P.G.B. 2012. Modelling climate change effects on a Dutch coastal groundwater system using airborne Electro Magnetic measurements, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 4499-4516
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Groundwater salinization in the Wadden Sea area of the Netherlands; quantifying the effects of climate change, sea level rise and anthropogenic interferences
Pauw, P.S., De Louw, P.G.B., Oude Essink, G.H.P. 2012. Groundwater salinization in the Wadden Sea area of the Netherlands; quantifying the effects of climate change, sea level rise and anthropogenic interferences, Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 91-3, 373-383
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Shallow rainwater lenses in deltaic areas with saline seepage
De Louw, P.G.B., Eeman, S., Siemon, B., Voortman, B.R., Gunnink, J., van Baaren, E.S., and Oude Essink, G.H.P., 2011, Shallow rainwater lenses in deltaic areas with saline seepage, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 3659-3678
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Upward groundwater flow in boils as the dominant mechanism of salinization in deep polders
De Louw, P.G.B., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Stuyfzand, P.J., Zee, van der, S.E.A.T.M., 2010, Upward groundwater flow in boils as the dominant mechanism of salinization in deep polders, The Netherlands, J. Hydrol. 394, 494-506
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Effects of climate change on coastal groundwater systems: A modeling study in the Netherlands
Oude Essink, G.H.P., E.S. van Baaren, and P.G.B. De Louw 2010, Effects of climate change on coastal groundwater systems: A modeling study in the Netherlands, Water Resour. Res., 46, W00F04
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Estimating the depth of fresh and brackish groundwater in a predominantly saline region using geophysical and hydrological methods, Zeeland, the Netherlands
Goes, B.J.M., Oude Essink, G.H.P., Vernes, R.W. and Sergi, F. 2009. Estimating the depth of fresh and brackish groundwater in a predominantly saline region using geophysical and hydrological methods, Zeeland, the Netherlands, Near Surface Geophysics 401-412
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Impact of sea level rise on groundwater flow regimes. A sensitivity analysis for the Netherlands
Oude Essink, G.H.P. 1996. Impact of sea level rise on groundwater flow regimes. A sensitivity analysis for the Netherlands. Ph.D. thesis, Delft University of Technology. Delft Studies in Integrated Water Management: no. 7 ISBN 90-407-1330-8. 428 p.
Activities
2009-present | Co-promotor PhD students | Co-promotor PhD studies Perry de Louw (2013), Joost Delsman (2013), Pieter Pauw (2013), Sebastian Huizer (start 2013), Hung Van Pham (start 2014), 3 PhDs Water Nexus, 1 PhD “Fresh groundwater reserves in 40 major deltas under global and climate change” |
1999-present | Lecturer | Lecturer UNESCO-IHE Delft (International Institute for Infrastructural Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering |
1992-present | Member of scientific committee | Participant Salt Water Intrusion Meetings (www.swim-site.org) since 1992 |