Hotspot Rotterdam: Flood risk in unembanked areas
Written by William Veerbeek Tuesday, 20 July 2010 15:01
The final report for the Hotspot Rotterdam 02-project has been published by the Knowledge for Climate programme. This report covers a detailed flood impact assessment for the unembanked areas Rijnmond-Drechtsteden region, including the expected impacts resulting from climate change. The FRG has been extensively involved in this research project. Many of the outcomes have been generated by a further development of the flood damage assessment model first used in the UFM-project in Dordrecht. The report is divided into 3 parts: i) the hydrological conditions ii) the damage assessment for the urban areas and iii) the impact assessment for the port area. Furthermore a synthesis has been written to summarize the main outcomes.
Abstract
For The Netherlands it is expected that climate change will result in sea level rise and differing river discharge. This increases uncertainties regarding the frequency and severity of flood risks. This specifically holds for the Rijnmond-Drechtsteden region, a delta area which exists out of urban, port and agricultural area. Mostly this area is protected by typical Dutch levees. Nonetheless, along the river there is also a vast amount of unembanked area which is protected by elevation of the urban and port grounds. Knowledge is needed to uncover the consequences of climate change for the flood risk of this type of area. If consequences are substantial, measures are needed to reduce the impact of floods and to maintain the important function of the area for its inhabitants and the economy of the Netherlands.
FRG starts intensive collaboration with the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities in Australia
Written by Jeroen Rijke Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:41
So far, the efforts to collaborate have resulted in participation of FRG-member Jeroen Rijke in the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities’ Cities as Supply Catchments research programme. This research programme is the flagship of the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities that focuses on technologies and governance of stormwater harvesting as a means to address the prolonged drought that Australia is facing. Jeroen works intensively together with the research team of the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities in a research project that aims to understand enabling and disabling factors in socio-political context for widespread implementation of alternative water systems.
In April, a first visit was made to Melbourne, Australia, to give project a good start and to exchange Dutch and Australian perspectives on how to stimulate politicians, practitioners and communities in urban areas to enhance more adaptive and resilient approaches to urban water management. From June until September, a second visit will be undertaken to interview leaders in the urban water sector and analyse drivers and barriers for the widespread implementation of water sensitive technologies in the urban water sector.
At the end of this year the complete FRG plans to visit the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities in Melbourne for a week of intensive exchange of knowledge and stimulate further collaboration.
More information: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Innovative national pilot on Multi Level Safety approach
Written by Sebastiaan van Herk Monday, 10 May 2010 16:40
FRG member Sebastiaan van Herk facilitated a unique workshop that mobilised a broad group of participants ranging from utilities, developers, construction companies, local, regional and national government, Red Cross, the Military, to policy and fire departments. Of course several experts of the Flood Resilience Group were present and contributed. For the city of Dordrecht different potential measures were identified such as super levees, safe havens and flood proof infrastructure design (transport, electricity, ICT). These measures seek synergies between the safety layers. E.g. a levee is planned to cross a new development area at a higher level with public space and dwellings on both sides close to the water. This will increase the visibility of the water and thus the attractiveness of the area. Meanwhile the civil structure can serve as a safe route when water levels rise. These concepts stimulate a debate on future urban planning and flood safety policy and might provide business opportunities. During 2010 these strategies will be elaborated, especially towards actual implementation: cost benefit analysis, investment planning, business planning and policy making. For more information on the national policy pilot, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
‘Changing Perspectives’ to shed new light on the future of delta cities
Written by William Veerbeek Monday, 19 April 2010 12:20
PRESS RELEASE
Design competition for new delta cities
‘Changing Perspectives’ to shed new light on the future of delta cities
Rotterdam, April 15, 2010 – Drastic measures are required to offer river delta cities permanent social and economic security and prosperity in the face of climate change. But exactly which measures? Visionaries from around the globe are invited to participate in a global ideas competition and to submit their design for a climate change resilient delta city for the future. The winning design will be converted into a workable plan for the Stadshavens (City Ports) district in Rotterdam.
Today, nearly half of the world’s population lives in large cities, predominantly delta cities. Accordingly, climate change will have a major impact on these river delta areas, confronting them with huge challenges. The participants in the competition are invited to find solutions for urban problems, and for the current and future threats posed by climate change.
Wanted: revolutionary measures
The uncertainties of a future characterized by ongoing urbanization, rising sea levels, changing precipitation patterns, aridity and changing groundwater levels require measures that in some cases need to address short-term issues, while others should provide long-term solutions. What we need, therefore, are revolutionary, innovative solutions, of a technical, architectural, social, urban planning or economic nature. Design teams who want to participate are invited to address (some of) the following themes in designing their solutions.
• Waterfronts (and multifunctional levees)
• Infrastructure and transport
• Public spaces (including climate buffers)
• Existing building stock (and its transformation)
The initiators of this competition are members of the public sector, the corporate sector and the world of knowledge and education, supported by UN Habitat, the World Water Council, Dutch Delta Design (DDD), the Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate (CPWC), the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) and the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP).
24-hour improvement session
The competition is open to professionals of all disciplines. In teams of three people they will submit a proposal dedicated to one specific delta city. They may choose any existing delta city according to their preference, anywhere in the world. A professional jury will assess the proposals and make a shortlist of the seven best entries. These seven winning teams will be invited by ‘Delta City of the Future’ – all expenses paid – to come to Rotterdam on the day before the international ‘Deltas in Times of Climate Change’ conference for a 24-hour marathon session (‘designing around the clock’) to explain how their concepts apply to the Stadshavens(City Ports) district in Rotterdam. The winner will be selected during this design session, and the winning idea will be presented to the administrators, scientists and international corporate delegates attending the conference. Tracy Metz will preside over the international jury.
No tabula rasa or static final picture
Participants will be informed in writing on the criteria for the design proposals. We are not looking for plans involving the destruction (and/or reconstruction elsewhere) of existing delta cities. What we do need are plans that address the need to adapt flexibly to an uncertain, ever changing environment.
Information and registration
Responsible for the organization are Rotterdam Climate Proof, UNESCO-IHE, Rotterdam University and Waterstudio.nl. Please register before 1 June at the following website: http://www.unesco-ihe.org/Delta-City-of-the-Future. Participants will be informed about the procedure by email. The teams can subsequently submit their proposals before 1 July.
A Building Resilience Workshop: Innovative, Sustainable Flood Mitigation Solutions for Gulf Coast, New Orleans.
Written by Chris Zevenbergen Sunday, 28 March 2010 18:21
A call to address the threats and opportunities of living with water, the workshop Building Resilience: Implementing Innovative, Sustainable Flood Mitigation Solutions for the Gulf Coast has gathered diverse experts, including keynote speaker Gen. Russel Honoré, in New Orleans February 26 & 27, 2010. Local and global practitioners, policy-makers and community stakeholders were invited to share best practices and initiate community action and policy plans for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. The workshopʼs plenary speakers included Larry Buss, the long-time chair of the US Army Corps of Engineers National Non-Structural/Flood Proofing Committee, Erik Pasche, TUHH (Germany), and Chris Zevenbergen, UNESCO-IHE (The Netherlands). Lead organizer Dr. Elizabeth C. English, of the Buoyant Foundation Project, objectives were to broaden two vital dialogues in this region: the sharing with local practitioners of innovative flood mitigation techniques currently in practice in Europe, and the sharing with local community stakeholders and policy makers of successful strategies for overcoming administrative obstacles and implementing new, sustainable solutions that promote community resilience.
More information: www.resilienceworkshop.org
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