Building with natureConcepts and applicationsMindert de Vries, Specialist Advisor Eco-engineering

mindert.devries@deltares.nl

May 2010

Building with nature=

Building with nature=

use the

natural dynamics of the ecosystem

to create

flexible and sustainable infrastructure

while enhancing nature values

use the

natural dynamics of the ecosystem

to create

flexible and sustainable infrastructure

while enhancing nature values

… principles …… principles …

shared solutions, based onshared investment and shared knowledgebetween market, government and science

shared solutions, based onshared investment and shared knowledgebetween market, government and science

innovative process

paradigm shift, pro-active,across disciplines and

balancing thinking and doing

innovative process

paradigm shift, pro-active,across disciplines and

balancing thinking and doing

Building with Nature approach

• Start with largest possible scale, robust,restore gradients, allow dynamics, let it grow.

• Network, share ideas, share knowledge• Paradigm shift “what can we do for nature,

what can nature do for us”• Balance thinking and doing: show it in pilots• Monitor and analyse to understand key

processes.

BwN for coastal defense: concept

• Restore ecosystems along coastlines.

• Create healthy, stable designs that make useof nature and engineering, that stabilize thecoastline and protect against flooding.

• Create flexible, climate proof and sustainablesolutions

• Combine functions

Marshland kwelders

Foto paesens-moddergat

Effective low costlow tech saltmarshproduces safety& large natural value

Dutch historical large scale land reclamation =building with nature

Wave reducingsaltmarsh

sea dike

Vegetatie als golfremmer

Mindert de Vries,John de Ronde,DHV,IMARES,Alle Hosper

Saltmarsh grows with sea level and maintains stability and safetyHigh BwN, low tech, low maintenance cost Lake

IJsselmeer

Afsluitdijk

WaddenSea

Wave reducingsaltmarsh

Super stormstable vegetated

dune

WaddenWadden SeaSea SuperSuper DikeDike:: saltmarshsaltmarsh//dunedune//dikedike hybridhybrid

Existing dike

Oysterreef construction for shore stabilisation

Various configurations aretested for effectivity

Oyster-mattress stabilizes sedimentand is basis for a living reef

River dike application: wavereducing hybrid dike ‘fortSteurgat’

Deltares concept and designhas now been officially acceptedto achieve required 1/2000 safetystandards and is integrated in this300 million euro project

Wave reducingwillow-tree plantationsLow cost low tech

Clay dikewill be lower thantraditional design

June 2009, 100x30m floating wave reducing marsh pilotusing traditional techniques, inspired by Louisianaswamps

Low-techfloating structure

of willow treebranches

Louisiana after Katrina: restoration of marshes can bepart of BwN solution for safety against storm surges

2009: Yankee pond:proposal for large scale wavereducing marsh restoration

using Dutch technology.

Cooperation with DHV, Stateof Louisiana &

National Parks Service

BwN perspective onsustained safety combined

with healthy productivenatural system

(prepared for USACE)

Healthy nature helps toprotect the population

Ecological Engineering, 2009

State of the art research, in order to proof concepts

• Field• Laboratory facilities• Numerical

modelling• Papers accepted in

journals

Building with nature projects overview

2009

2008

2007

USA SNG

The Netherlands are leading ineco-engineering applied forsafety against flooding

2010

Louisiana now: Gulf Oil Spill threatens the Delta

• BwN Solution combines state-of-the-art science withstate-of-the-art technology and access to broadnetwork• Explore and optimize solution using BwN concepts

(Deltares)• Use predictive numerical modelling for optimal

design(Deltares)• Input potential for large scale Engineering and

Nourishment Technology (van Oord)• Utilize extended BwN Network (Deltares, van Oord

and many other parties) if need arises• Balance thinking and doing!

Operational Louisiana coastal models

Since Katrina we have advanced 3D models runningfor Gulf and LA coast in cooperation with USAcounterparts

What can we do:• Operational forecasting of hydrodynamics• Operational forecasting of the fate and transport of oil

based on detailed 3D current patterns.• Forecasting of stability of Chandeleur Islands• Flushing of marshes in Mississippi delta.

Start of simulation: 9 May 2010:based on satellite image (onlymain patch; no sheen)

NASA / MODIS (Aqua): May 9, 2010

ESA, Envisat SAR:May 9, 20103D oil spill modeling

Prediction after 4 days on 13 May 2010 using NOAAwind forecasts and 6 hour updates of currents

3D oil spill modeling, 4 days later

Stability of Chandeleur Islands

• Deltares develops world-leading models for hurricanemorphodynamics simulation (XBeach, Delft3D)

• Solution for oil spill could include sustainable solutionfor Chandeleur Islands

• Lifetime of restored islands will be determined byhurricane impact

• Validation of models together with USGS –• only study ever to hindcast hurricane overwash

correctly for an entire area

Simulation of Hurricane Katrina at Chandeleurs

• Large area vulnerable

• Infinite coastline length

• Many entry points

• Impossible to defend

• Impossible to clean

main trajectoryof oil spill

Deepwater HorizonGulf Oil Spill

Can we find a BwNsolution?