Generic knowledge

Reference books, guidance documents and knowledge institutes: there is a lot of knowledge available about soil research in Dutch soils. An outline of some of the key studies, agencies and handbooks from the information available.

TU Delft research (2009 - 2017)

• Experimental Investigation on the Desiccation and Fracturing of Clay (2017)
• Reliability of long heterogeneous slopes in 3D (2017)
• Reconstitution of sensitive clays (2012)
• 3D subsurface modelling and geotechnical risk analysis for the tunnel construction of the A2 project Maastricht (2009)

Knowledge programme Climate, Water and Subsidence (2016)

The Climate, Water and Subsidence (KWB) knowledge programme was launched in October 2016. With the knowledge programme, the province of South Holland, STOWA and the Platform Slack Soil aim to provide solutions and develop a strategy to keep the peatlands of the Netherlands liveable, safe and affordable.

Soil subsidence in low moorland areas (2016)

In this project, STOWA and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency worked on a coherent overview of the issues surrounding peat subsidence in the Netherlands, now and in the long term (2050 and 2100). A comprehensive report of the policy study has been published, identifying possible measures.

Bodemloket (2015)

Bodemloket maps soil quality. It shows, among other things, where past (business) activities have taken place that deserve extra attention because they may have affected soil quality.

Unexpected events in soil (2014)

An exploratory study by Deltares and Witteveen+Bos on unexpected and undesirable events in soil. The exploration consisted of a literature review, study of thirty practical cases and a workshop with experts from different organisations. Causes and consequences were further categorised. It also looked at solution directions to minimise future unexpected events.

Thickness map of holocene silt layers Netherlands (2014)

The Geological Survey of the Netherlands TNO has mapped where the soil of the Netherlands contains slack and compressible layers. The map gives a rough indication of the total thickness of Holocene peat and clay layers in the Netherlands.

The Groundwater Pocket Book (2012)

A compendium for groundwater practice in the Netherlands. The booklet is not a textbook, but a reference work full of key figures, formulas, overviews, default values, rules of thumb, checklists, and so on. All groundwater aspects are covered. The booklet is self-published by author Bram Bot, who used the collection of notes from his career as a starting point. On the website specially created for the booklet, more information can be found and the booklet can be ordered.

Learning from geotechnical failure (2010)

This CUR report lists the structural causes of geotechnical failure, divided into micro, meso and macro levels. For each of these levels, measures and recommendations are presented to prevent damage events. The measures are directly applicable to professionals and the organisations in which they work. Examples include controls with simple calculation models, risk analyses and a monitoring plan. In addition, more attention is needed to the effects of a structure on its immediate surroundings. There is a separate Geonet dossier 'Learning from failure'.

Handbook guideline soil investigation, VOTB (2006)

The Association of Engineering Soil Investigators (VOTB) released a handbook in 2006 containing guidance on how to conduct geotechnical investigations. In the handbook, VOTB covers the geology of the Netherlands, followed by descriptions of commonly used field and laboratory tests. It also covers the risks of working with subsoil and setting up a soil investigation.

ISSMGE

Founded in 1936, the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering(ISSMGE) is an active promoter of international cooperation between engineers and scientists to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of geotechnical engineering. In 2005, the ISSMGE released a paper on soil testing. 'Geotechnical & geophyisical investigations for offshore and nearshore developments' is largely based on an earlier paper by Fugro on the subject.

Handbook of soil investigations for large projects(2002)

Following the Grensmaas and Zandmaas projects, RWS-DWW pooled its experience in the field of large-scale soil investigations for large projects. As a reference work, the manual 'soil investigation major projects' is 'particularly suitable for future soil investigations as part of infrastructural or hydraulic engineering works'. The handbook is also useful, albeit to a lesser extent, for investigations concerning global soil inventories', according to the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.
The main text of the handbook describes the course of a soil investigation chronologically and thematically: from planning to final report. General information on the geology of the Netherlands, Drilling Methods, Geophysical Investigation and Operations is provided in four appendices.

Handbook of Soil Mechanics (2001)

This book was intended as a manual for the lectures in Soil Mechanics of the Civil Engineering course at TU Delft. It contains an introduction to the main concepts and techniques of soil mechanics, such as the calculation of stresses, deformations, and stability. It also reviews the most commonly used methods for determining soil properties. Three appendices cover some basic principles of mechanics. A useful reference work that can be downloaded free of charge as a .pdf.