Rotterdam Climate Proof

Author: Dipesh Dey

Rotterdam Climate Proof (RCP) program paints an outline of how Rotterdam intends to adapt to climate change, not just as a matter of survival, but also to take a huge leap forward to the market of the future. In short, RCP is helping the Netherland government build a city and port that is protected, attractive and economically competitive.

The initiative includes Rotterdam City Council, the Port of Rotterdam (the largest in the European continent) and Deltalinqs. The member of RCP have a common target of a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025 compared with 1990 levels. This is the percentage needed if the Netherlands as a country is to be able to comply with the European proposal for a 30% cut in emissions by 2025.

The consequences of climate change for the city

The city of Rotterdam is faced by a unique threat of being at the junction point, where from all 4 directions flood water come pouring in as the temperature of the planet increases – rain from top, groundwater surge from bottom, sea water from left and river water from the right.

According to Kwadijk et al. (2006)*, the following climate change effects will take place:
1. larger number of heatwaves (very probable).
2. decrease in air quality during heatwaves (very probable).
3. larger consumption of electricity in the summer (very probable).
4. increase in the frequency of cold-water restrictions (very probable).
5. higher levels of river discharge in winter and therefore greater likelihood of floods (very probable).
6. more frequent occurrence of flooding in urban areas (probable)
7. increase in wind speed during gales (fifty-fifty).

Climate scenarios show an increase in wind speeds, but the increase will be small and fall easily within the current variation of wind speeds from year to year. Kwadijk et al. (2006)*, conclude that the climate in the Netherlands in 2050 will resemble the current climate in Bordeaux of France (in spring, summer and autumn) and that of the Po Valley of Italy (in winter).

Outline of RCP: The three mainstays

1. Knowledge
Knowledge development and sharing; adaptation strategy for areas outside protection by dunes and dikes; cooperation between knowledge institutions; international knowledge exchange on delta management; laboratory-based innovations about climate and water and heat stress research.
2. Action
implementation of Rotterdam Waterplan 2; accelerated implementation of green roofs, reduction in tax for having with a green roof and subsidies; bulding water plazas; adaptive constructions – water safety and water storage; reducing heat stress and air pollution measures.
3. Marketing
Communication and marketing; knowledge-based marketing network; water and climate events; World Water Forum 2009 entry; entry in World Water Expo Shanghai for Best Urban Practices 2010; climate and water campus.

* J. Kwadijk, F. Klijn and M. van Drunen (2006). Climate proofing the Netherlands: baseline, WL, Delft Hydraulics, www.programmaark.nl, 94 pp.

Thank you Dr. Yeh!

Author: Dipesh Dey



Thank you Dr. Yeh! It was a privilege to have you in company! We appreciate your help in the initial 8 days to get us all set and going!

The Beautiful Dutch People

Author: Dipesh Dey

Reception by NWP and UNESCO-IHE for the Visiting Florida and Louisiana Teams

Author: Dipesh Dey

Zeeland, Walcheren Island | Coastal Defence, Weak Links Project; Man-made Beach, Beach Expansion in front of Sea Resort Vlissingen

Author: Dipesh Dey

Zeeland Dunes & Dikes | Coastal Defence System, Weak Links Project

Author: Dipesh Dey

Deltapark Neeltje Jans | Zeeland Storm Surge Barrier Oosterschelde

Author: Dipesh Dey

Maeslantkering | Rotterdam Storm Surge Barrier, World's Largest Moving Structure

Author: Dipesh Dey

Claiming New Land on Sea | Port of Rotterdam and Maasvlakte 2

Author: Dipesh Dey

Photos: The ever-growing City of Rotterdam

Author: Dipesh Dey

Exposure Course on Water Management in the Netherlands for Water Managers from the U.S.

Author: Dipesh Dey

Duration: May 25-May 29
Organized by: Florida Earth Foundation, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management; and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.

Activities in which USF IRES Team took part:

May 25 Monday

9:00 Welcome and introduction by Dr. Jan Luijendijk.
9:30 Introduction to Water Management in the Netherlands by Prof. Bart Schultz.

May 26 Tuesday

Visits to Rotterdam Municipality and Harbour

7:45 Departure from IHE by bus.
9:00 Arrival at FutureLand for a visit to the Maasvlakte 2 project hosted by the Port of Rotterdam, Project organization Maasvlakte 2.
9:30 Presentation on "Maasvlakte 2: from vision to reality, hydraulic aspects" by Mr. Jan Konter
10:00 Tour to the construction site of the Maasvlakte 2 guided by Mr. Konter and Mrs. A. van Ham
11:00 Departure for visit at the municipality of Rotterdam
11:30 Arrival at the Rotterdam Information Center; Presentation on Rotterdam Climate Proof (RCP) Programme and Water Safety by Mr. Nick van Barneveld; Presentation about green roofs by Mr. Jos Streng.
13:00 Lunch offered by municipality of Rotterdam.
14:00 - 15:00 Rotterdam Public Library.
15:00 - 16:00 Bus tour to Maestlantkering at Hoek van Holland.
16:00 Visit the Storm Surge Barrier the Maestlantkering" at the information center of Keringhuis; Movie on the construction, presentation and a guided tour.
17:30 - 18:30 Return to Delft through the Westland region.

May 27 Wednesday

Zeeland Province

8:00 Departure from UNESCO-IHE by bus.
10:00 Arrival at the Neeltje Jans, the Information Center at the Storm Surge Barrier Oosterschelde.
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee break and welcome by Dr. Tjeerd Blauw.
10:30 - 11:30 Introduction on Delta Works and movie on the construction of the barrier.
11:30 - 12:30 Guided tour to the inside of the barrier.
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch and presentations by Dr. Tjeerd de Blauw and Durk Jan Lagendijk.
13:30 Departure for Wlacheren Island
14:15 - 15:00 Movie on the Ducth Coastal Defence System and introduction by Mr. Bert Kortsmit, Project Manager.
15:00 - 17:00 Visit to the costal defence system activities at Zoutelande and Nolle-Westduin (Weak Links Project).
17:30 Dinner at the Gevangetoren at the boulevard in Vlissingen; Presentation by Mrs. Wilma Brouwer, member of the Water Board Zeewse Eilanden and responsible for International Affairs.
20:00 Departure for Delft by bus.

May 28 Thrusday

USF IRES Student delegation meeting at the Internation Water House, The Hague; Presentation b Mrs. Floor Boerwinki about the Netherland Water Partnership (NWP); Presentations on NGOs IRC and AKVO.

Famous Delftware Pottery Factories (Deflt Blue)

Author: Dipesh Dey

Directions
Royal Delft
Delft Station Centrum -> Bus 121 or 129 -> 3rd Stop: Jaffalaan/TU Aula (TU Delft campus); 5 min. walk; Rotterdamseweg 196; Tel: 015-251-2030.

Delft Pottery De Delftse Pauw (Pauw means Peacock in the Dutch)
Delft Station Centrum / UNESCO-IHE -> Tram 1 (Delft-Scveningen) -> 3rd Stop: Vrijenbanselaan/Brasserskade -> 5 min. walk through good township with a canal running in the middle, road signs of De Pauw can be seen all the way through from stop to factory; Delftweg 133.

Delft blue pottery or more commonly known as Delftware, are always painted by hand. The designs are created by hired painters. The product that is painted on is called “bisque”. The painters use black paint always. This paint contains cobalt oxide and copper oxide. The cobalt oxide is the main ingredient to change the black color into Delft Blue. After the product is painted it is glazed. Then it goes to the kiln for a second firing process, where at temperature around 12000C for 24 hours a chemical reaction changes the black color to Delft Blue. The gray shades in the black paint are a mixture of water and paint. The more water is added, the lighter the shade becomes. Painting is a very precise and delicate job, because the bisque is porous and readily adsorbs paint. The mistakes cannot be erased.

Kaoline, feldspar, chalk and quartz are made into a slurry with water and poured into a plaster mould. One plaster mould can be used 50-80 times. The plaster mould absorbs the water from the clay slurry and a thick crust forms inside. When the thickness is enough, the mould is turned upside down, to pour out the remaining slurry. This is how the hollow form is obtained. For some more time, depending on the thickness and length of the crust, its left undisturbed. The clay crust inside shrink in the end and thus can be easily removed form the mould. The lines and irregularities are removed with knife and sponge. Then it can be painted.

The several styles of pottery are:

1. Delft Blue: Dutch interpretation of Chinese porcelain. Tulip Vase is most famous based on sales record. In the 17th century tulip was a very exclusive and expensive flower. A tulip vase is a status symbol and rich people could show their wealth by demonstrating it. Today, tulip is a cheap flower, but vases are expensive.
2. Polychrome: First produced in Delft in 17 the century and known as “Majolica”. It is a joyful style based on ceramics from Italy and Spain.
3. Pijnacker (Red, Blue and Gold): 17th century Dutch version of Japanese “Imari” earthenware. For gold, real gold is used, the most expensive style and still the status symbol for many rich Dutch people.
4. Delft Black: Originated in 17th century, known as “The Miraculous Delft Black” and reintroduced in 1978. This style is inspired by Chinese laquerware.
5. Tile picture: One complete picture consists of 3 parts (a total of 28 meters) and represents the people of Amsterdam celebrating the winery harvest. Today, a partial picture can be seen in the restaurant “Die Port van Cleve” in Amsterdam.

Kinderdijk, a folktale and the Hans Brinker story

Author: Dipesh Dey

Kinderdijk is a village situated 15 km east of Rotterdam. Its located in a polder at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers. To drain the polder a system of 19 windmills was built in 1740 and is the largest concentration of archaic windmills in Holland. It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997.

The name Kinderdijk is Dutch for "Child's Dike". In 1421 during the Saint Elizabeth flood of 1421, the Grote Hollandse Waard flooded, but the Alblasserwaard polder stayed unflooded. It is said that when the terrible storm had subsided, someone went on to the dike between these two areas, to see what could be saved. He saw in the distance a wooden cradle floating. There was no hope that anything would be living in it, but when it approached, movement was seen. When the cradle came nearer, someone saw that a cat was in the cradle trying to keep it in balance by jumping back and forth so that no water could come into it. When the cradle eventually came near the dike, someone fished the cradle out and saw that in it a baby slept quiet and dry. In some of the stories the cat kept it balanced and afloat. This folktale and legend has been published as "The Cat and the Cradle" in English.

In the Netherlands, the drainage system is an important matter. The Dutch need a well developed water control system in order to keep large areas from being flooded, because some parts of the Netherlands are below sea level. In Alblasserwaard, problems with water became more and more apparent in the 13th century. Large canals, called 'weteringen', were dug to get rid of the excess water in the polders. However, the drained soil started setting, while the level of the river rose due to the river's sand deposits. After a few centuries, an additional way to keep the polders dry was required. It was decided to build a series of windmills, with a limited capacity to bridge water level differences, but just able to pump water into a reservoir at an intermediate level between the soil in the polder and the river; the reservoir could be pumped out into the river by other windmills whenever the river level was low enough; the river level has both seasonal and tidal variations.

Full control over the water level was never achieved. Throughout the centuries, the residents of the western part of the Netherlands suffered inundations, especially because of dyke ruptures; this is reflected the legend of the floating cradle at Kinderdijk and the figure of an anonymous boy commonly mistaken for Hans Brinker with his finger in a ruptured dyke.

The Hans Brinker Story and Flood Prevention in Holland:

In Holland, poor but industrious and honorable 15 year old Hans Brinker and his younger sister Gretel, yearn to participate in December's great ice-skating race on the canal. They have little chance of doing well on their handmade wooden skates, but the prospect of the race and the prize of the Silver Skates excite them and fire their dreams.

Hans' father is sick and amnesiac because of a fall from dike and cannot work. Mrs. Brinker, Hans, and Gretel must work to support the family and are looked down upon in the community because of their low income and poor status. Hans and Gretel learn that a famous surgeon, Dr. Boekman, might be able to treat their father, but the doctor is expensive and gruff following the loss of his wife and son. Eventually, Dr. Boekman is persuaded to examine the Brinkers' father. He diagnoses pressure on the brain, which can be cured by a risky and expensive operation involving trephining. Hans offers his own money, saved in the hope of buying steel skates, to the doctor to pay for his father's operation. Touched by this gesture, Dr. Boekman provides the surgery for free. Hans is able to buy good skates and skate in the race, but Hans lets a friend — who needs it more — win the precious prize, the Silver Skates. Mr. Brinker's operation is successful, and he is restored to health and memory. Dr. Boekman is also changed, losing his gruff ways.

The Brinker parents live a long life. Dr. Boekman helps Hans go to medical school and Hans becomes a successful doctor.

IRES Program Overview

Author: Dipesh Dey

University of South Florida (USF), Tampa, Florida, USA recently recieved a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to carry out its International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program, in collaboration with UNESCO-IHE, Institute of Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands. The objective is to exchange students between these two institutions working closely on developing sustainable clean water technologies to achieve United Nation's Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The students are supposed to get exposure to a wider spectrum of environmental research techniques in the process.

Last summer (2008), some graduate students from UNESCO-IHE visited USF's Dept. of Civil & Env. Engineering for doing collaborative research. This year (i.e. Summer 2009), 3 graduate and 3 undergraduate students of USF were selected to go to Delft, NL, and are to work with 3 professors and their research teams at IHE. The students will stay in Delft for 10 weeks from May 19 to July 31, 2009. The activity does not come at any additional economic cost on the part of the students - return airline tickets have been purchased and students' accommodation at IHE have been paid for by the grant at USF. Additionally, adequate meal allowance and travelling/miscellaneous spending allowances are also being given to the students.

The professors at USF involved in the IRES program are: Dr. Daniel Yeh (Principal Investigator), Dr. Jeffrey Cunningham, and Dr. Maya Trotz (Dept. of Civil & Env. Eng.); Dr. Norma Alcantar (Dept. of Chemical & Biomedical Eng.) and Dr. Ricardo Izurieta (Dept. of Global Health). The participating professors at UNESCO-IHE, Institute of Water Education are: Dr. Gary Amy and Dr. Branislav Petrusevski (Dept. of Urban Water & Sanitation); and Dr. Piet Lens (Dept. of Environmental Resources).

Following are the details of the students, the area they will work on and their UNESCO-IHE mentors:

Wendy Mussoline (Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Global Health, USF; Principal Advisor: Dr. Ricardo Izurieta) & Robert Bair (B.S. Student, Env. Sci. & Policy, USF; Advisor: Dr. Daniel Yeh); UNESCO-IHE mentor: Dr. Piet Lens; Area of research at IHE: Anaerobic processes and bioreactors.
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/iu/staffmember/ple
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/About/Academic-departments/Environmental-Resources/Research/Postdoctoral-and-visiting-researchers/Dr.-Jan-Bartacek


Dipesh Dey (Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Civil & Env. Eng., USF; Principal Advisor: Dr. Jeff Cunningham) & Michael Gerdjikian (B.S. student, Dept. of Civil & Env. Eng., USF; Advisor: Dr. Daniel Yeh); UNESCO-IHE mentor: Dr. Gary Amy; Area of Research at IHE: Contaminant fate and transport in soil aquifer treatment (SAT) and river bank filtration (RBF) processes; membrane bioreactors.
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/iu/staffmember/amy

http://www.unesco-ihe.org/iu/staffmember/mdk


Duncan Peabody (M.S. student, Dept. of Civil & Env. Eng., USF; Principal Advisor: Dr. James Mihelcic) & Hong Ting (Sam) Chiu (B.S. student, Dept. of Civil & Env. Eng., USF; Advisor: Dr. Maya Trotz); UNESCO-IHE mentor: Dr. Branislav Petrusevski; Area of Research: Arsenic removal and effect of water quality parameters on competitive arsenic sorption.
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/iu/staffmember/bpt

The students and faculties at USF and UNESCO-IHE, Delft, appear excited about the trip and hope that it pays off in terms of valuable long-term research collaborations.