Dike technology

Dykes are crucial for the Netherlands to keep dry feet. They are mostly built from soil but often special constructions are needed for a dike to fulfil multiple functions. There are inspection techniques to periodically test the safety of dykes.

Professionalising Water Works Inspections Programme (2017)

The programme Professionalising Inspection Flood Defences 2.0 (PIW2.0) of STOWA and Rijkswaterstaat has the ambition to further professionalise the inspections of flood defences. After the previous phases focused on substantive improvement and professionalisation of the inspection process, PIW2.0 establishes the relationship with the adjacent management cycle, review cycle and implementation at water managers.

TU Delft research (2010 - 2017)

• Reliability of long heterogeneous slopes in 3D (2017)
• Integral Design of Multifunctional Flood Defences (2017)
• Finite element modelling for earthquake loads on dykes (2015)
• Reliability-based analysis of river dikes during flood waves (2012)
• Safety standards of flood defences (2011)
• Calibration of piping assessment models (2011)
• Reliability tools in geotechnical design, river dike analysis (2010)

Dike inspection with drones (2015)

An exploration of the potential for using drones in the inspection and management of flood defences. This report was written as part of the Professionalising Inspections of Flood Defences (PIW) programme.

Digital handbook for water (2015)

This handbook was prepared by the National Water Plan (NWP), the national plan for water policy for the period 2009-2015. It summarises and explains water legislation, the division of tasks and competences and the operation of water management instruments. 'Water safety' is one of the main topics. New information is still regularly added to the manual.

Pilot project dike nails in Lekdijk (2015)

By installing 273 dike nails, each 18m long, the Lekdijk near Vianen has been sufficiently reinforced for the next 50 years. This solution does not reduce the dyke strength during application and it can be carried out with little space and time.

Vertical Sand Dense Geotextile (2015)

In July 2015, Waterschap Rivierenland applied Verticaal Zanddicht Geotextiel (VZG) for the first time in a dike improvement project. This solution was applied as a measure against piping. Advantages: less nuisance for the surrounding area, less space required and lower costs.

Longitudinal dam effectiveness study (2015)

Deltares, together with Rijkswaterstaat and the universities of Delft, Wageningen and Nijmegen, will study the properties and effects of redesigning the Waal with longitudinal dams. Among other things, the study should provide insight into whether it makes sense to replace groynes with longitudinal dams at several places in the Dutch rivers in the future.

Pilot project double dike (2015)

The Province of Groningen is investigating new dike concepts to protect our country for the next 50 to 100 years. One of these is the 'double dike'.

Floating dam (2015)

A 335m long dam raised by the buoyancy of water is going to protect the historic centre of Spakenburg from flooding. It is a solution that takes up little space and time. In Spakenburg, this dam will be built for the first time on a large scale and as part of a primary flood defence system.

Failure test peat dike (2015)

On 14 October 2015 in Leendert de Boerspolder, a century-old peat dike was subjected to a controlled collapse test. The test provides insight into the strength of a dike on a subsoil of peat.

Design guideline stability screen dikes (2014)

In 2012, a design methodology for stability screens for the purpose of inward macro stability for soil dykes was developed. This was found suitable for use in similar complex geotechnical situations in early 2013.

Soil mechanical schematisation for embankments (2012)

This technical report describes the necessary schematisations of the (sub-)soil structure of dikes and the pore water pressures occurring in this structure, and provides guidance on how to prepare these schematisations. The recommendations are suitable for use in testing dikes as well as in designing dikes or dike reinforcements.

IJkdijk Foundation

The IJkdijk is an experimental site where the following scientific activities take place:

• Conducting experiments to develop knowledge about the behaviour of dykes. The experiments allow the test dykes to be loaded in such a way that they fail in a controlled manner.
• Testing and validation of new sensor, inspection and observation techniques by participating companies.

Water Safety Expertise Network

The knowledge centre in the Netherlands in the field of dike technology is the Expertise Network for Water Safety (ENW, then Technical Advisory Committee for Water Barriers, TAW). Its newsletter 'Infostream' is available digitally (see homepage). Various ENW reports can also be found on the website.

STOWA

The Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA) is the knowledge centre of regional water managers in the Netherlands. STOWA develops, gathers and disseminates knowledge needed to properly carry out the tasks facing water managers. The STOWA website contains reports, software, current themes, news and discussion forums on water management.

Delft Cluster products: Knowledge consolidation (2009)

For this research, case studies were conducted with the aim of deploying consideration techniques to successfully use technical knowledge in the planning and management phase of dykes.

Delft Cluster products: Flood safety (2009)

Research into the exact level of safety required in the low-lying part of the Netherlands to prevent flooding from both the sea and rivers.

Geotextile tubes with dredged material strengthen flood defences (2009)

Over the years, a large amount of dredged material has accumulated in Dutch inland waters that needs to be removed for reasons of shipping and water management. In addition, dikes and quays need to be raised and strengthened along many inland waterways. Both social tasks can be combined in high-quality construction with dredged material. CUR report 222 elaborates this concept and examines the acceptance of those involved.

INSIDE: dyke reinforcement

INSIDE was a project set up by Rijkswaterstaat with the main objective of developing new methods to improve dykes in a sustainable, space-saving and cost-conscious way. The project was completed in 2007 and produced this final report.