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DeltaresCapabilities and international projects
Table of Contents
1. Deltares, a Dutch independent institute for water, soil and subsurface issues 2. Deltares employees3. Research facilities4. Pumping stations bigger and bigger5. Enhancing coastal safety by use of natural ecosystem engineers6. Diverse levees7. Flood risk management and adaptation to climate change 8. Hurricane Katrina and Deltares’ role9. FEWS for the National Weather Service10. Levee patroller: a levee inspection simulator 11. River and urban water management at Deltares12. Operational Water Quality Management for Marina Reservoir 13. Supporting Hong Kong with the expansion of its urban area14. Yemen LNG project 15. Software projects in the USA
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Deltares, a Dutch independent institute for water,
soil and subsurface issues
legal processes. We apply knowledge about those processes in an integrated way to develop and improve the habitability of deltas, coastal areas and river basins. The integrated approach allows us to come up with innovative solutions. We call this approach ‘delta technology’.
‘Enabling Delta Life’Nowadays, more than 50% of the world’s popula-tion live, work, and spend their leisure time in deltas, coastal areas and river basins. Delta areas have major economic potential because of their strategic location close to the sea and waterways. The ground is fertile and rich in minerals and raw materials. However, delta areas are also vulnera-ble: soft soil subsides, the sea level is rising, rivers show extreme levels and pressure on space and the environment is on the increase. The Netherlands is renowned for its struggle against the water. We know how to make the most of the available space in densely populated deltas with soft soils and, at the same time, provide protection against the dangers of the water. As a result of that experience, Dutch experts are very much in demand, both at home and far beyond their own borders. There is increasing global demand for knowl-edge and technology in the area of water and the subsurface in relation to delta issues. Deltares provides innovative solutions to make living and working in deltas, coastal areas and river basins safe, clean and sustainable.This intrinsic commitment is expressed in Deltares’ strategic principle - ‘Enabling Delta Life.’
Delft Hydraulics, GeoDelft, the Subsurface and Groundwater unit of TNO and parts of Rijkswater-staat joined forces in an independent institute, Deltares. The institute combines knowledge and experience in the fields of water, soil and the subsurface. Deltares is at the forefront of development, distri-bution and application of knowledge for meeting the challenges in the physical planning, design and management of vulnerable deltas, coastal areas and river basins. Deltares works for and cooperates with the Dutch national government, provincial authorities and water boards, international governments, research institutes and the private sector. The institute employs more than 800 people and is located in two cities: Delft and Utrecht.
Delta TechnologyInterventions in water and earth interact. There-fore water and the subsurface in deltas cannot be viewed separately. There is growing pressure on delta systems: economic development and demographic changes make the management of deltas increasingly complex. Shortage of space means that we are moving into areas that are less suitable for living. Extreme fluctuations in water levels require us to focus more on management and safety. Subsiding land and rising sea levels accentuate that process. It is not enough to concentrate solely on coast-lines or rivers. We need to look at catchment areas in their entirety. We tackle safety issues by assessing risks in ad-vance using models and other research methods. Questions about water and the subsurface involve not only technological issues, but also natural processes, spatial planning and administrative/
Widely applicable consultancy and researchDeltares stands for the right balance between consultancy and research at both the national and international levels. Water, soil and the subsurface are factors of importance throughout the world, although the circumstances are usually different from the Netherlands. Climate, social structure, ecosystems, land use and the subsurface can vary widely. International activities give Deltares the opportunity to extend and deepen its expertise. So the application of our expertise is state-of-the-art.
Background of the participating institutesWL | Delft Hydraulics was actively involved with water-related issues worldwide, whilst GeoDelft focused on issues in the field of geo-engineering. The Subsurface and Groundwater unit of TNO is active in groundwater management, subsurface/soil remediation and the management and use of the subsurface domain. The Department of Transport, Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) is engaged in providing flood protection and safeguarding adequate supplies of clean water for all users. Rijkswaterstaat has transferred knowledge development for delta is-sues to Deltares.
For more information: www.deltares.nl
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“I am currently involved in an intense consultancy project for the hydrodynamic modelling of a new intake/outfall system in Abu Dhabi”
“Modelling tools can help in achieving a better understanding of aquatic ecosystem changes through time and space”
"I am currently working on projects that involve mathematical andphysical modelling of river structures and river training works."
“How flexible is our water management with respect to climate change, and how can we adapt it to climate change?”
“Proud to assist Aceh, Indonesia, in the building of a DSS for tsunami risk maps and an evacuation tool used in the Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (InaTEWS).”
"Whether we like it or not: water level predictions are uncertain. Thequestion is HOW uncertain they are, and how to act upon that information."
"We combine hydrodynamics and ecology, in our study of freshwater and marine systems to advise stakeholders worldwide“
"The greatest challenge for hydrodynamic models is real-time forecasting."
“Ecological questions in deltas are becoming more urgent every day.”
“We assist policy makers and land managers by making decisions to achieve the right balance between exploitation and protection of soil functions.”
“Challenging water managers to discover the limits, deal with dilemmas and enjoy the opportunities of participation.”
"Having a better understanding of the interaction between soil and construction makes the use of underground space in urban areas, especially in deltas, more viable."
Deltares employees
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Research facilities
Deltares has a host of experimental facilities available for fundamental and applied research, as well as for consultancy projects.
Geo/hydro facilitiesRotating annular flumeThe carousel consists of a rotating annular chan-nel with a closed rotating lid at the water surface in opposite direction. The operational speed of the lid and the channel are experimentally determined using small spheres and an electromagnetic cur-rent meter. Data is collected using a PC mounted on the carousel lid, wirelessly connected to the ground station. The annular flume is located inside a climate-controlled room.
Wave/current flumeIn this multi-purpose facility experiments can be carried out ranging from oil spill break-up to ero-sion and sedimentation of a deposited mud bed under wave and flow attack. The flume is equipped with a wave generator and a water circulation system. If required wave damping structures are available.
Large-scale geo/hydro flumeThe Dredging Flume is a research facility for complex soil/water interactions. It comprises a large concrete research-flume and a self propelled dredging module consisting of a multi purpose dredging installation complete with data-acquisi-tion and data processing systems. The dredging module is mounted on top of the flume walls. A glass wall can be installed to form a flume that enables visualization of the processes.
Oscillating water tunnelThis facility has been constructed to study sedi-ment transport phenomena and related problems under controlled simulated wave conditions and currents at full scale. Problems like boundary layer flows, bed-loaded transport, suspended sediment transport, bed shear-stress, incipient motion and ripple formation can be studied. Tests can be performed both under random and periodic wave conditions.
Hydro/structure facilitiesLarge scale wave flumeThe Delta flume can be used for physical model studies in which scale effects are to be expected, like testing breakwaters and revetments, wave forces on structures or dune erosion testing. This facility enables testing on a scale close to prototype. The wave board is equipped with Active Reflection Compensation (ARC) which minimises re-reflections off the wave board towards the model. The wave generator is able to generate second order waves according to all standard or prescribed wave density spectra.
Wave/current flume The Scheldt flume is a glass-walled facility and is used to study a wide range of coastal related issues, viz. stability of all kinds of breakwaters, scour and scour protection, stability of beaches and studying wave run-up or wave overtopping. The model scale applied in this facility is usually between 1:10 and 1:50. The wave board is equipped with Active reflection Compensation (ARC). The wave generator is able to generate second order waves according to standard or prescribed wave density spectra.
Wave/current basinThe Scheldt basin has been designed to study the influence of combined wave-current loads on typical scales 1:10 to 1:50. Typical projects for the Scheldt basin are related to scour and scour protection around offshore structures or stability testing for instance of breakwater heads. The wave generator of the Scheldt basin is able to generate long-crested second order waves according to all standard or prescribed wave density spectra.
Multi-directional wave basin The Vinjé basin is equipped with a programmable wave generator with 80 independently controlled paddles. The length of the wave front is 26.4 m. The paddles enable simulation of real sea condi-tions for both long-crested and short-crested waves, including directional spreading. This basin is perfectly suitable to perform 3D experiments to study breakwater roundheads, moored ship at (open) berths, wave forces on jetties, and harbour
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wave agitation. The model scale applied in this facility is usually between 1:30 and 1:75. The wave board is equipped with Active Reflection Compen-sation (ARC). The wave generator is able to gener-ate second order waves according to all standard or prescribed wave density spectra.
Intake/outfall facilityCivil works such as pump sumps can be investi-gated in this specific facility to verify and improve proper pump working under all operation and de-sign/emergency conditions. Pump sumps with up to 20 individual pump compartments (with typical 1:10 scale) can be jointly investigated.
Two-phase and dynamic flow test facilityIn this facility pipeline components are tested under two-phase (water-air) or dynamic flow con-ditions. It is used for the dynamic testing of check valves, air valves, pressure relief valves, as well as the steady, two-phase flow testing of control valves, separators and mixers.
Valve test facility (water)Testing of Cv, Kv or noise characteristic of any valve type up to 800 mm diameter takes place according to international standards (ISA, IEC, VDMA). The flow is supplied by eight speed-controlled pumps with a maximum flow capacity of 1.9 m3/s. The pressure in the closed loop rig is controlled and maintained constant with an air vessel.
Air flow test facilityTesting of valves and air valves takes place according to international standards (ISA, ISO, IEC, EN, VDMA). The flow is supplied by a large air vessel with a capacity of 70 m3, pressurized by a compressor. An active gas control valve allows for a constant pressure and flow in the test section. For a high accuracy over a wide flow range the main line or a bypass is available. The actual flow conditions are converted to standard conditions, according to the standards.
Calibration rig for certified calibrations of flow metersThe calibration is based upon the “weighing method” according to standard ISO 4185. The flow is supplied by a constant head reservoir (at a height of 24 m). Rig specifications: maximum flow is 1.9 m3/s, maximum flow meter diameter is 2 m, accuracy is 0.05 %. During a specified period wa-ter is collected in one of the weighing tanks, which mass is measured with calibrated load cells. From the mass increase, filling time and water density, the volumetric flow rate is determined.
Long pipeline test loop for dynamic experimentsThe test loop has a length of 650 m and an inter-nal diameter of 235 mm. Dynamic experiments can be carried out in single phase (water), or multi-phase (water-air-solid). Transport phenomena of water-air or water-air and sand at stationary and dynamic test conditions can be studied, as well as leak detection, pipe friction, flushing, etc.
Kolkman flumeThe Kolkman flume is used for investigations related to design details of hydraulic structures, forces on and vibrations of hydraulic structures. The flume has sidewalls made of glass. The wave generator is capable of generating both regular (periodic) and irregular (random) waves. It is equipped with online Active Reflection Compensa-tion and activated either by a sinus generator or PC-steering signal.
Flume 4This is a wide flume for investigations related to flow forces, discharge coefficients, specific design details, bed protection and morphological impact of hydraulic structures. The flume has a zig-zag formed overflow gate at the upstream side and a vertical lifting gate at the downstream side so that water levels can be controlled easily and ac-curately. A sediment sieve is constructed at the downstream side for the collection of lightweight material in morphological tests. The flume has a maximum discharge of 1000 l/s. The electrically driven measurement bridge can also be used for drag tests.
Geo-engineering facilitiesGeocentrifugeThe centrifuge belongs to the beam type with a load-ing capacity of 16.5 MN. It has one arm of 6 m in radius, which is extended by a container of 2 cubic meters. The tilt angle of the container can be halted in flight. In the centrifuge it is possible to create a light vacuum environment. The geocen-trifuge is generally used to investigate geotechni-cal problems related to the interactions between foundations and soils.
1-g Model Facilities Large testing containerThis testing container surnamed ‘Bak-van-Smits’ (dim. 4 m x 2.5 m x 1.5 m) has been constructed with a nozzle network on the bottom. Through these nozzles water can be injected with high pressures breaking the compacity of the sand
block. Sand gets fluidized. Mounted steel grids can be used to densify the sand model. By this technique saturated sand models can be prepared with a wanted relative density of loose to dense. Capillary sand can also be prepared. Testing do-mains are: (cone) penetration tests, testing of field push-away techniques, compaction tests, and trench tests.
Medium testing containerThe medium testing container surnamed ‘Brutus-bak’ (dim. 2 m x 1 m x1 m) is provided with two parallel glass windows making possible visual ob-servations along the sand model profile. It has the same fluidization system as the large testing con-tainer. Sand models are compacted using shock waves. Obtained sand densities vary from loose to dense.Testing domains are: soil deformations around a vibrating sheet-pile, arching effects, and scaled geo-containers.
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Table centrifugeOriginally dedicated to clinical applications, a standard table centrifuge has been adapted to fit the needs of geotechnical investigations. In addition to its four modified cups diametrically located, sliprings have been mounted in the rotor to make possible the use of sensors in the cup and the transfer of data to the fixed world. Sensors like pressure gauges, electrodes, and a displacement sensor can be used successfully in these condi-tions. It can rotate in a range of 500 to 1800 rpm corresponding to acceleration varying from 50 - 600 times the Earth’s gravity.
Large triaxial cellThe large triaxial cell (dim. 0.4 m in diameter and 0.8 m high) is convenient to characterize the mechanical properties of coarse materials or large soil samples like asfalt, cement, and heteroge-neous samples. Measurements are treated and presented in the same way than standard triaxial tests.
For more information www.deltares.nl or [email protected]
Pumping stations
bigger and biggerDemand for cooling and drinking water is increas-ingly steadily throughout the world. Cooling water is needed for power and industrial plants, drink-ing water for people and agriculture. More and more water is taken from the sea. Salt water can, for instance, be used for cooling, but it has to be processed using different techniques (evaporation and filtration) before it can be used as fresh water. Particularly in the dry areas of the world, many new pumping stations are being built to meet this rise in demand for water.
The size of the pumping stations and the individ-ual pumps is also steadily increasing. Flow rates can rise as high as 60,000 m3/h per pump, with ten pumps or more in a pumping station. Exam-ples are the Shuaiba power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia, with a designed flow capacity of 486,000 m3/h (nine pumps in operation), and the Marina barrage in Singapore, which includes seven axial pumps with a total flow rate of 864,000 m3/h. The biggest pump station so far in the world is Ras Laffan in Qatar, consisting of different sub-stations with flow rates varying from 340,000 to 960,000 m3/h.
In both large and small pumping stations, the stakes are high when it comes to proper pump operation. Higher electricity bills can result from poor approach flows (a loss of, for example, 1% can push up the bill by € 100,000 a year per pump). Mechanical fatigue can cause frequent shut-downs for maintenance and, in the worst scenario, compromise the designed flow and head of the pumping station. Proper pump operation is achieved by detailed experimental testing of the pumps in models, with the scale varying typically between 1:8 and 1:11. The pumping station is ac-curately scaled from the intake location up to the suction pipe of the pump. The main objectives of
model studies of this kind are a uniform approach flow to the bell mouth of the pump, without air entrainment, and within optimised dimensions to minimise construction volume and costs. Phe-nomena such as swirl, pre-rotation, vortex- and tornado building, air entrainment, velocity profiles and flow instabilities at the pumps are deter-mined, and compared with the pump specifica-tions. Numerical models cannot yet calculate all these phenomena accurately enough.
Optimised designA project starts with a desk study of the hydraulic design to establish the main dimensions of the pumping station. These main dimensions will not usually change during the model study. This al-lows our client to start the civil construction work. Changes in the physical model are then limited to local modifications such as splitters to interrupt pre-rotation, corner fillings, baffles or surface beams. The intake/outfall facility of Deltares has a basin with an area of 11 by 22 m, with measure-ment and control provisions for circulation flow, level, suction flow per pump and pre-rotation.
All measured data are collected with dedicated software tools. These modelling activities provide the consultant, the contractor and the owner with an optimised pump sump design and trouble-free pump operation. In addition to the pump sump, Deltares also advises about other parts of large water-circulation systems of this kind, such as the design and stability of possible breakwaters for the intake and outfall, the near-field and far-field circulation flow patterns to minimise local tem-perature effects, and the downstream pipe sys-tems with respect to flow distribution, operational control and waterhammer.
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Enhancing coastal safety by use of natural
ecosystem engineers
Climate change involves rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of storms. Therefore, sustainable and cost-effective coastal protection is vital to low-lying coastal areas. Leeves and other civil-engineering structures are built for safety to flooding, but maintenance costs are high and there is an increasing need for multi-functional alternatives. Sand nourishments are a ‘soft’ form of engineering, which is commonly ap-plied. In the Biobuilder project of Deltares, coastal protection solutions are proposed involving eco-system engineers in combination with traditional engineering solutions.
Salt-marsh vegetation is a good example of an ecosystem engineer: by reducing hydrodynamic forces, the vegetation traps and stabilizes sedi-ments, leading to accretion, and reducing wave impact and flooding levels. Nowadays it is com-monly known that levees which are bordered by salt marshes require less height and enforcement.
In the Netherlands, salt-marsh restoration is now combined with dike design in order to provide so-lutions, that offer nature value, sustainable safety and a flexible basis for future dike adaptations, with sufficient space for additional uses such as recreation. Basic to this integrated concept is the understanding of functioning of salt marsh systems on a larger scale and in the context of the whole ecosystem. Ecosystem engineers may be
present in different zones, facilitating each other. Species in the higher zones of the salt marsh are facilitated by species in lower zones, that absorb the energy of incoming waves. The tidal flat in front of the salt marsh, in turn, influences the intensity of incoming waves and supply of sedi-ments.
Intertidal flats can be inhabited by oysterreefs. The reef-building oyster beds could function as stabilising or protecting agents, because they reduce wave intensity and current velocity, and provide an extra sediment flux to higher tidal elevations. After initiation or transplantation of reefs, natural processes may stimulate their maintenance and expansion. The newly formed ecotope will generate a diverse habitat, support-ing a biodiverse community.
In our research and pilots we explore the potential of these concepts, in cooperation with our partner institutes. At present living ‘building blocks’ are tested in the field and full scale pilots are initiated. With implementation of integrated ecosystem en-gineering solutions, we aim to increase long term safety, while reducing maintenance costs and facilitating increased nature value and flexibility for future uses.
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Diverse Levees
Why are Diverse Levees important?Hard substrates are home to the most diverse communities of all coastal systems in the Neth-erlands. Sea dikes and levees are a habitat for many, sometimes rare, species, and can contrib-ute greatly to their dispersal. By facilitating the establishment possibilities for marine organ-isms, such as mussels, oysters, barnacles, algae and anemones, the ecological function of hard substrates can be significantly improved. Species from neighboring ecosystems such as fishes can benefit from the enlarged food supply and avail-ability of refuge locations. These improvements can serve as a measure to compensate lost nature or to increase ecosystem quality.
What is a Diverse Levee?In the last decade, management and development of natural functions of levees were incorporated in Dutch policies. Several concepts for ‘green’ levees and submerged reefs were applied in the field. To further improve the ecological value of hard substrates, the WaterInnovation project ‘Diverse Levee’ was initiated in 2007. The project aims for the design of ecologically optimized coastal defense structures that are developed in an inten-sive cooperation process of ecologists and civil en-gineers, resulting in designs that are economically feasible and can easily be incorporated in existing or new designs for coastal infrastructure.
How does a Diverse Levee work?Growth on hard substrates is determined by dif-ferent vertical environmental gradients, such as exposition to waves and submergence time. By selecting material characteristics that aim at the improvement of establishment and survival of organisms living on and just under the water level, the bio-productivity and possibly the biodiversity can be increased. Important characteristics of the
The Netherlands has hundreds of kilometers of hard coastal defense and harbor structures, such as levees, dams, piers, docks and jetties. These structures serve as possible living area for marine organisms that are dependent on hard substrates for attachment, shelter and food. The Diverse Levee project aims to enrich hard substrates by implementing improved levee designs. At the base of these designs lies the preservation, and, if pos-sible, even improvement, of the original hydraulic function. The result is a larger biomass, a higher diversity per surface unit, a more appealing coastal landscape and a better water quality.
Diverse Levee is a cooperation between Deltares and the Dutch Ministry of Public Works and Water-managements’ WaterINNovation (WINN) Pro-gramme. At present, several commercial business partners have joined the project.
material are the roughness (better attachment), exposition (exposed, sheltered), water retention capacity (water availability for plants and algae), hardness (boring animals), color (heat retention), size and chemical composition.
Several pilot studies of Diverse Levees have been initiated, and along the entire Dutch coast tests are being executed. Based on the outcomes the various designs of Diverse Levees are being im-proved constantly. Currently, several possibilities for implementation of the Diverse Levee concept in large-scale projects are explored. Various Diverse Levee projects will be started in the Netherlands in the following years, and also outside of the Neth-erlands, projects for ecologically enriched seawalls are being developed. The new Diverse Levees will provide a pleasant environment for a large variety of species, including humans.
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Many people all over the world are threatened by floods from rivers, estuaries and the sea. Through flood risk management we try to reduce the loss of life, distress and economic damage caused by floods. Through flood risk management we try to adapt to the impacts of climate change and eco-nomic development. Deltares specializes in research and consultancy services for integrated flood risk management. Optimal design of flood management schemes is supported by flood risk analyses using advanced tools such as our state-of-the-art inundation mod-eling system SOBEK. Deltares has also world-wide experience in the implementation of advanced flood early warning systems for major river systems.
Integrated flood risk analysis and managementFlood risk management is comprised of pre-flood prevention, risk mitigation and flood prepared-ness. Pre-flood prevention includes the design of flood management schemes. Such design should be based on a risk approach taking into account both the probability and consequences of flooding. Adaptation to climate change and to economic de-velopment are important drivers in designing flood management schemes. Flood risk management is strongly related to spatial planning: the location of new developments, flood proof structures and making room for rivers. Risk communication is considered a valuable way to promote flood awareness and to improve flood preparedness of citizens. Such communication should take into account the subjective perception of flood risks. In any case flood risk management should be supported by a proper (and quantitative) understanding of the characteristics and conse-quences of a flood event.
Key activities:• assessmentofpotentialdamagesandfloodrisks.• conceptualdesignoffloodmanagement
schemes, both flood defense systems and plans to make room for rivers.
• inundationmodelingforriskmitigationandevacuation planning.
Adaptation to impacts of climate changeAdaptation to the impacts of climate change is an important driver in flood risk management: how to deal with increasing sea levels and flood waves in rivers. The answer to this question includes the assessment of the vulnerability of areas to climate change, the design and evaluation of adapta-tion strategies and the advise to policy makers on how to cope with the uncertainties associated with climate change. Climate change and land use changes may have major impacts on the hydrologi-cal behavior of water systems. With a variety of modeling techniques Deltares is able to quantify the effect of these changes. Sustainable water management, including the de-sign of robust flood management schemes, should be based on a sound understanding of the impacts of climate change and should take into account the demographic and socio-political context. The design of climate proof adaptation strategies may include new concepts for both flood defense (super levees, smart levees, terps) and infrastructure (dry- and wetproof buildings). Decision support systems or planning kits may be developed and used to assist in the integral evalua-tion of large sets of possible measures. These tools are also valuable in communicating complex results and solutions to a wide audience of stakeholders. In cooperation with landscape architects clear maps may be produced to visualize the major issues and to develop a decision framework for climate proof spatial planning.
Flood risk management & adaption to climate change
Key activities:• climatechangeandlandusestudies• vulnerabilitystudiestoclimatechange• hydrologicalandwaterresourcesmodelingat
various scales• developmentofdecision-supportsystems.
Flood forecasting and early warning
Timely dissemination of information to authorities and inhabitants of flood-prone areas is therefore an essential component in our approach to FEWS.
Key activities:• setting-upofon-linemonitoringsystems.• developmentofflood-forecastingsystems,
including flood modeling.• institutionaldevelopmentandtraining.
Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) are an es-sential element in regional and national flood alert strategies. Our generic Delft-FEWS software consists of a collection of sophisticated modules designed for building a FEWS tailored to the spe-cific requirements of individual agencies. An open modeling approach allows users to add their own modules in an efficient way. Delft-FEWS is a living product which benefits continuously from user ex-periences and our own R&D efforts. Effective flood warning requires a robust organizational setting.
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EU Directive on flood risk
In response to devastating floods in Europe the ‘EU Directive on assessment and management of flood risks’ was developed. The aim of the Directive is to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, infrastructure and property. The Directive takes a three step approach: (1) preliminary flood risk assessment, (2) flood risk maps and (3) flood risk management plans. Deltares has the ability to support Member States in the implementation of this Directive.To support the implementation of the Directive research is being carried out a.o within the Flood-site research project: the largest ever EC research project on floods. Deltares is one of the leading institutes involved in Floodsite. Our input focuses on the development of methodologies for flood risk assessment and management as well as the dissemination of the results to the professional community.
Software systems
Deltares develops and maintains a wide range of dedicated software packages related to flood risk management: • Delft-FEWS-openandflexiblesystemforset-
ting up flood-forecasting systems, allowing the use of existing models and databases.
• SOBEK-comprehensivesimulationofone-andtwo-dimensional hydrodynamic flow, for ap-plication in rivers, canals, estuaries and urban water systems including natural flooding and inundation from levee and dam breaches.
• Delft3D–simulationofstormsurges,tsunamisin oceans and coastal seas
For more information: www.deltares.nl
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Hurricane Katrina and Deltares’ role
Since floods caused by hurricane Katrina dev-astated New Orleans in 2005, Dutch specialists, including several from Deltares, have collaborated with the US Army Corps of Engineers to provide expert research and advice on how the damaged area can be restored and strengthened.
Plan for the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Project (LACPR)Deltares specialists joined forces with other Dutch institutions, as represented by the Netherlands Water Partnership, in order to develop a plan for long-term flood risk reduction for coastal Louisi-ana and for stabilizing the rapidly disappearing coastal wetlands of the Mississippi Delta. After a cost-benefit analysis the specialists deemed it economically justifiable to provide flood protec-tion to the city of New Orleans against water levels with a return frequency of at least 1/1.000 per year, which is considerably higher than the existing protection level.
Building with natureOn the principle that building with nature makes more sense than fighting nature, a series of options was identified to not only stabilize the remaining wetlands in the Mississippi Delta but also to create new wetlands. Since “building with nature” has been a guiding principle for the man-agement of Dutch wetlands since the second half of the 20th century, Dutch specialists have gained experience and expertise which can be applied to New Orleans. The role of wetlands in hurricane surge-level reduction and wave attenuation provides a link between the issues of flood risk reduction and the degradation of the delta ecosystem. Three alternative strategies were designed to illustrate the available options: an
open system, a semi-open system and a closed system, with gates that can be closed during hur-ricanes. Based on the characteristics and impacts of these strategies the external project team for-mulated a Preferred Strategy (total costs estimat-ed at $20 billion) which is realistic, feasible and achievable provided that stakeholder participation is combined with a genuine political commitment to protect New Orleans and enhance the Missis-sippi Delta ecosystem.
Dutch flood management specialist in evaluation committeeThe US Government requested the National Re-search Council (NRC) and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) to evaluate the failure of the New Orleans’ hurricane protection system dur-ing hurricane Katrina. In response, the NRC/NAE formed an independent committee, which was composed of 16 members, 15 of which are from the US. The international member of this commit-tee is Jos Dijkman, flood management specialist with Deltares in the Netherlands.The evaluation was primarily based on the results of the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET). The IPET activities focused on the de-sign capacity of the hurricane protection system, forces exerted against the system and system response, and factors that resulted in overtop-ping, breaching, or failure of levees and floodwalls. This task force included federal, state and local agencies, universities, professional societies and consultants.
Awards for outstanding researchIn January 2008 Michael Sharpe, technical director at the US Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC), awarded three Dutch specialists with a distinction for their research on the damage inflicted by hurricane Katrina. These specialists were Frans Barends (who advised the Americans to identify the causes of the failure of the levees), Adam Bezuijen and Paul Schaminée.
Levee behaviorDutch hydraulic engineering experts are highly regarded for their knowledge of the mechanical properties of weak soils such as organic clay and peat. Like in the Netherlands, a majority of the levees in New Orleans is built on this type of soil. Adam Bezuijen and Paul Schaminée helped build the physical models of levees that were subjected to centrifuge tests in the United States. Deltares and ERDC own and operate the world’s largest cen-trifuges and these tests are an important resource when it comes to investigating levee behavior.
Test leveeThe US Army Corps delegation also visited the Smart Levee site in Bellingwolde, The Netherlands, where American sensor technology is tested. The Smart Levee is a test site where a full-scale levee can be breached in a controlled environment using various types of instruments. By closely oberserv-ing and monitoring levee behavior under various circumstances, fundamental insight is gained into methods for improving water management and flood risk control. The Smart Levee project brings together about 50 Dutch companies and research institutes. Deltares coordinates the geotechnical input of the Smart Levee project.
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FEWS for the National Weather Service –
the Community Hydrologic Prediction System
(CHPS)
Worldwide, flooding creates major human and economic losses to societies every year. Flood protection can reduce but not eliminate the risk of flooding. Flood management organizations bear the responsibility of warning communities of potential floods and in order to provide this life-saving service, they make use of real-time flood forecasting systems.
Over the past two decades Deltares has developed the open-shell forecasting system Delft Flood EarlyWarningSystem–knowninshortasDelft-FEWS. In recent years, Delft-FEWS has rapidly evolved to match the growing requirements of flood forecasting services. It is currently used operationally throughout the world in major ap-plications like the National Flood Forecasting Sys-tem for England and Wales, the Flood and Drought Forecasting System for the Po River in Italy and National Flood Forecasting System for Taiwan.
National Weather ServiceIn 2006, the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States also started to show an interest in this state-of-the-art flood forecasting system. The NWS is, among other things, responsible for provision of river and flash-flood forecasts and warnings throughout the United States. Deltares started working with the NWS to investigate how the current suite of software used for river forecasting operations in the United States could be modernized using Delft-FEWS. After a series of technical assessments and pilot implementations, the NWS decided in early 2008 that Delft-FEWS should provide the flexible service-oriented software architecture for their future Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS). Implemen-tation started in mid 2008 at four of the NWS River Forecast Centers (RFCs) including the one
responsible for California and Nevada. CHPS is scheduled to be in operational use at all 13 River Forecast Centers (RFCs) of the NWS by mid-2011.
Deltares provides much more than a software architecture within this challenging project. Deltares is developing new functionality in FEWS to meet, for example, the wide ranging interactive forecasting requirements of the river forecasters in the RFCs. Much attention will be given to the development of the ensemble forecasting capabil-ity, and verification and calibration systems. The forecasters in the RFCs will receive support and be trained to conduct the country-wide migration to Delft-FEWS and to extend the forecasting capabil-ity independently in the future.
Delft-FEWSDelft-FEWS is an innovative software product developed by Deltares. It provides users the latest techniques and science in the field of real-time forecasting and is a truly open system that is fully user configurable. It offers a comprehensive service-oriented architecture for water related forecasting systems dealing, for example, with floods, droughts, water quality and groundwater. The architecture is very flexible and can easily be adapted to the requirements of organizations ranging from small water boards to national au-thorities. It also provides all necessary options to en-sure high performance, robustness and availability.
Research & developmentIn close cooperation with the Delft-FEWS user community and universities, Deltares invests a lot of effort in new science that benefits the users of the system. A hot topic is quantifying probabili-ties associated with forecasts which is expected to significantly enhance flood warning and response
services. Uncertainty reduction using data as-similation techniques and verification are other important fields of interest. Delft-FEWS func-tionality is being developed to benefit low-flow forecasting and reservoir management. Innovative applications for real-time water quality forecast-ing–likepredictionofharmfulalgaeblooms,suspended matter and oil spills - are a priority on the Fews research and development calendar. With new developments it is Deltares’ ambition that the cycle from science to operational use is short.
Deltares USAIn September 2008, Deltares USA Inc was established. The office is located in Silver Spring in Maryland. It will provide a base for supporting Deltares’ activities for the National Weather Service. The office will also be instrumental in the communication with other Deltares’ clients in the United States.
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Levee patroller: a levee inspection simulator
‘Safety in the polder’ is increasingly important in The Netherlands due to sea level rise and extensive rainfall. Alongside an effective levee maintenance and reinforcement programme, it is also equally important to have an operational emergency response organisation in place when extreme high water levels occur. Trained levee patrollers play an essential role in the Dutch emergency response organisation. Out in the field, they are the eyes and ears of the Water Management Organisation. A patroller should be able to recognize potentially dangerous situations. Where levees are prone to failure they are able to communicate this fact swiftly and efficiently to the back office. Levee patrollers in the Netherlands may be professionals but volunteers are also often re-cruited for the job. Both professional and volunteer need specific training for this task.
In 2004, Deltares started its special training courses for levee patrollers in order to guarantee a sufficient level of knowledge to do the job. During the course, levee patrollers can apply their knowl-edge in a virtual environment of polders, dikes and levees. This virtual environment was developed in cooperation with Delft University of Technology and Deltares with the input of five Dutch Water Boards.
In 2006, the 3D game “Levee Patroller” was incor-porated into the courses to help combine theory and practice and has been used to educate levee patrollers in The Netherlands ever since. Levee patrollers learn to recognize failure mechanisms and to communicate about it efficiently in order to prevent calamitous failures of levees and subse-quent flooding of the polder.
The levee patroller game offers the possibility to practice your skills when faced with near flood situ-ations without the actual risk of the loss of lives.
Students can learn from their mistakes and the fun element of gaming stimulates the user to continue practicing and learning.
How does it work?Within the virtual world of Levee Patroller the inspectors learn to recognize the different signs which indicate weakening of the levee and through that are able to prevent a full levee breach. They get trained in communicating with a crisis team to report their findings. The 3D environ-ment provides maximum flexibility, thus enabling inspectors to practice for the widest variety of situations. Various training situations can be selected with different objectives. It is possible to select from a variety of surroundings and weather conditions. You may even train the patroller on what measures could be taken. This enables the
participating water authorities to demonstrate the failure mechanisms that could occur in their own area. Training can thus be tailored for each water authority and each staff member.
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Water Resources Plan) project in Egypt, the Water Resources Management Strategy Study in Trinidad and Tobago and Cisadane-Cimanuk Integrated Wa-ter Resources Development Study in Indonesia.
Examples of projects in which long-term, large-scale interactions between (water resources) devel-opment and the environment were assessed are the River Rhine 2100 study, in which an environmen-tally sound and sustainable management strategy was designed to cope with climate change driven changes in the discharges of the river Rhine and a study on Sustainable World Food Production and Environment for the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), in which the future (2050) global water availability for irrigation and food production was assessed.
With our expertise on water systems, water supply and water quality we assist urban planners and developers in the design of new urban areas and in rehabilitation of existing areas. We provide support and assistance to the deliberations among the numerous stakeholders, by inspiring them with alternative solutions and by continuous validation of ideas, based on (a) our knowledge of the surface and groundwater
system, its behaviour and risks, from the very local scale to the scale of the river basin
(b) our vision on how to make cities more sustain-able and climate robust
(c) our sensitivity for stakes, social and economic forces
(d) our expertise on functional use and business opportunities related to urban water
Drinking water supply, sanitation and drainage of surplus water are important issues municipalities have to deal with. As well as municipalities, private companies and water boards are often responsible for drinking water supply and water treatment
How can we develop sustainable and climate-robust cities in deltas and lowlands around the world? The development and sustainable use of both rural and urban water resources requires measures and de-cision-making under complex situations involving many conflicting interests. Careful planning and analysis are required to support such decisions, taking into account technical, economical and envi-ronmental aspects in a specific social, cultural and institutional context.
Our aims• Securefutureglobalwateravailability• Improvethequalityoftheurbanlivingenviron-
ment• Climate-robustwatermanagementstrategies• Subsidence-freecities• Sustainableurbanisationofriverbasins
Water Resources ManagementDuring the preparation of the Netherlands’ national water Master Plans Deltares developed an inte-grated approach to support decision making in such complex situations. This approach consists of a comprehensive set of analysis steps, supported by mathematical tools for the analysis of natural resource systems in a socio-economic context. Using this approach we support water, river and floodplain managers world-wide in structuring decision making processes and we provide tech-nical know-how for effective evaluation of plan-ning alternatives. In our approach the resources development planning aims at the generation and evaluation of strategies to meet the management and policy goals in a future situation. Information management systems, decision support systems and simulation models are important tools in our approach.Examples of large water resources/river basin plan-ning studies are the Cebu (Philippines) Water Re-sources Development project, the NWRP (National
River and urban water management at Deltares
plants. These organisations usually have many plans but not all of them are compatible. Deltares believes that systems can be designed and man-aged more efficiently if these plans and systems are made more compatible. This decreases threats to people and saves public money. In the coming decades there will be an increasing focus on saving water and reusing available resources in River and Urban Water Management. That is why we have an integrated research programme and sophisticated simulation models that approach issues in an integrated manner. For example, increasing storage capacity at treatment plants may not be the best way to deal with excess run off, whereas separating waste water from clear storm water runoff may be a more cost-effective approach.
Deltares provides support and assistance to the deliberations amongst the numerous stakeholders by inspiring them with alternative solutions and by continuous evaluation of ideas based on our knowledge of the surface and groundwater system, and its behaviour and risks from the very local scale to the scale of the river basin, both now and in the future. Information management systems, decision support systems, simulation models such as SOBEK, Delft3D, Delft-CHESS and WANDA, and 3D visualisation tools are important instruments in our approach.
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Operational Water Quality Management for Marina Reservoir
Formed by the construction of a 350m-long Ma-rina Barrage, the Marina Reservoir, currently an estuarine water body will soon become a freshwa-ter reservoir in the heart of the new downtown of Singapore. In addition to flood control, the Marina Reservoir will provide another source of drinking water for Singapore, as well as a stable water level for a variety of recreational water activities and events.
PUB, the national water agency of Singapore, has commissioned Deltares to map out the transition from a well-flushed estuarine water system to a freshwater system and to guide the future opera-tional water management of the reservoir. Hereto, a fully integrated and comprehensive 1D-3D water quality modelling framework has been developed and applied to assess the future water quality and the effectiveness of mitigating measures, such as the recirculation system, which draws water from the Marina Reservoir, treats it to remove a large portion of nutrients and bacteria, before circulat-ing it through the major tributaries of the Marina Reservoir, creating flowing water in the upstream reaches of the tributaries.
Results of the models demonstrated that with max-imal source control, continuous recirculation, and ample artificial aeration to enhance vertical mixing in place, water quality problems like eutrophica-tion, oxygen depletion, bacterial pollution and high turbidity would be strongly reduced though not completely eliminated.
To address future operational water quality man-agement problems, an on-line Operational Manage-ment System (OMS) was developed that supports day-to-day decision making based upon continu-ous rainfall forecasting, online water quantity and quality monitoring and water quality model forecasting. The first version of the OMS addresses
the optimal tidal flushing and water level control scheme for brackish conditions that has been put in place for the period of 2008 to 2009, i.e. the period before the Marina Reservoir will be converted into a freshwater reservoir and during which various mitigative measures are being implemented.
Courtesy of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA),
Singapore
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Supporting Hong Kong with the expansion
of its urban area
Deltares is assisting Hong Kong to establish a master plan for the northern districts of the New Territories. Hong Kong wants to make this low-lying zone suitable for the further expansion of the urban area. The master plan provides advice about the structuring of the area, protection against flood-ing, the construction of polders, and the design of the rural and urban drainage systems, partly as eco-rivers. Deltares wants to use the software product HYMOS for data management, SOBEK for the calcula-tions for the drainage system, and Delft3D for the morphological studies of the Shenzhen River and its tributaries, which is suffering from silting prob-lems. The client is Mott Connell Ltd. The assignment is budgeted at more than € 700,000. Deltares will complete the project in late 2010. As Delft Hydrau-lics, Deltares has been involved before in a range of maritime projects in Hong Kong.
Yemen LNG project – moored ship basin tests
The Yemen LNG Company is presently building an LNG plant at Balhaf, Yemen, in the Gulf of Aden. At this site natural gas that is produced further inland will be liquefied, stored and loaded on board LNG carriers for export. During past years, several numerical studies have been performed on the behaviour of the LNG carriers to be moored to this jetty. However, the available numerical models can only describe an open water situation with a constant water depth and are not able to take into account the effect of the local bathymetry and the coast line geometry, both on the waves reaching the vessel, as well as on the resulting motions and mooring loads. In order to investigate these effects for the site of Balhaf, with its steeply sloping foreshore and complex coastline geometry, Deltares in combina-tion with Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) was requested to perform both physical and numerical model tests on the behaviour of the moored ship in its actual environment. The objective of the study was to determine the limiting environmental conditions for safe mooring at the
jetty, for three different ship types in loaded and ballast condition. The study supports the client in the operational management of the LNG terminal.
The project started with a review of Metocean data, leading to conclusions about the wave conditions, the wave directions and the area to be represented in the laboratory basin. The selected coastal area was built to scale, including the foreshore bathymetry up to -60 m CD and relevant parts of the coastline including Cape Balhaf. A jetty model with mooring and fender equipment was brought into place. Testing was done under various wave and wind conditions for a range of directions. Three ship models (165.000 m3 membrane type, 135.000 m3 spherical type, 216.000 m3 membrane type) were considered for testing. In the laboratory basin, a static wind load approach was applied and corrections for dynamic wind effects were based on numerical moored ship simulations carried out by MARIN. The combined results were compared to cri-teria as specified by the client. Based on this com-parison, the limiting conditions were determined.
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Software projects
in the USA
Office of Naval Research community modelDeltares has entered into an agreement with the Office of Naval Research to share its coastal mor-phodynamics software packages “Delft3D” as a development platform with researchers at US academic institutions and the Naval Research Laboratory. The research community has access to the open-source code, can adapt the code and implement new functionalities, which can be shared with other researchers.
San Diego projectIn collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo (SLO), Deltares is doing a study for the Office of Naval Research to apply the Delft3D model to the problem of tracking of the fate and transport of small scale riverine plumes in a complex coastal en-vironment. The southern region of San Diego serves as an ideal testbed for this study due to the local geography and the intermittent rain-driven flow events from the Tijuana River. The Delft3D model is used as a coastal model and is forced by output from larger (ocean-scale) models such as ROMS and with offshore wave heights and wind fields.
Hindcasting studies of the propagation and diffusion of the Tijuana River plume will serve as a focal point for evaluating the feasibility and skill of the models to hindcast coastal conditions. Delft3D nowcasts and forecasts of the region will be developed to assist AUV, UAV, and ship-based field sampling efforts, with those data intended to provide feedback to improve the model. The work is a collaborative effort between Deltares, Scripps Insitution of Oceanography (SIO), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo (SLO).
Beach WizardDeltares, the USGS and Oregon State University, have developed a data-model assimilation method called “Beach Wizard”, funded by the Office of Naval Research, with which the nearshore subtidal bathymetry can be accurately estimated based on video-derived observations of wave roller dissipa-tion and variation of the intertidal shoreline, and/or radar-derived observations of wave celerity. Using many consecutive images, these observed proper-ties are compared with numerical model results, and through a simple, optimal least-squares esti-mator approach the estimated bathymetry is ad-justed gradually for each image in order to improve the fit between model output and observations. The key advantages of the technique are that it is based on multiple sources of information (i.e., different remote sensors and/or data products), depends on only a few free parameters and shows good skill. Beach Wizard has been applied to two field sites at Duck, NC (USA) and Egmond (The Netherlands). The method can deliver coastal state information (i.e., simultaneous updates of bathymetry, waves, and currents) with high temporal and spatial resolution at a competitive coast and can be used in conjunc-tion with or instead of in-situ measured data.
Dune Erosion ModellingThe devastating effects of hurricanes on low-lying sandy coasts in Florida, especially during the 2004 and 2005 seasons have pointed to an urgent need to not only be able to assess the vulnerability of sandy coastal areas and (re-)design coastal protec-tion for future events, but also to evaluate the performance of existing coastal protection projects compared to ‘do-nothing’ scenarios. In order to address such questions the Morphos-3D project was initiated by the Corps of Engineers. One of the subprojects is the development of Xbeach (for eX-treme Beach behaviour) model. This process-based (i.e., based on physical principles) model is made
in order to simulate the 2D-horizontal nearshore hydrodynamics of waves and wave-induced cur-rents in combination with non-cohesive sediment transports and morphological change on the time scale of storm events.
In the past two years, the model has been derived and tested against data from laboratory and field measurements, and further development is ongoing, especially in the framework of a European Union project on Coastal Risk (“Micore”). The model is freely available under the GNU Lesser license. Source code, full documentation, testcases and discussions can be found at www.xbeach.org
Pre-hurricane Ivan dune profile (left) at Santa Rosa
Island, FL and computed post-storm profile (right)
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