Multi-year Field Measurements Project
The water board will conduct long-term measurements of the effect of water levels, waves, and wind in the Wadden Sea and the Eems-Dollard area.
What are we going to investigate?
We design dikes based on mathematical models that include assumptionsabout future waves, wind, and water levels. Due to the uncertainties involved, we apply considerable safety margins.
- But how realistic are these assumptions?
- What are the actual water levels and waves in the Eems-Dollard area during stormy conditions?
- And what are the consequences of this for the design of the flood defenses?
The Noorderzijlvest water board will investigate this over the next 12 years during field measurements in the Eems-Dollard area.
The results of the measurements and analyses provide valuable information. New insights (calculation models) help in the design and improvement of dikes. And it helps to prevent excessive spending.
Complex area
The Wadden Sea, and in particular the Eems-Dollard estuary, is a complex area. This is due to the islands, tidal channels, and the funnel shape of the Eems-Dollard. These elements, in combination with the wind, have an effect on water levels and waves. Advanced measuring equipment will be used to map the effects over the next 12 years.
The future
In our country, water safety is focused on the future. We take expectations regarding climate and sea level rise into account in advance.
When reinforcing dikes, the situation in 50 years' time is taken into account. Due to the Eemshaven-Delfzijl dike improvement project, the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority has decided to shorten this period to 25 years. This is in conjunction with the 12-year Multi-year Field Measurements project.
Doctoral research Multi-year field measurements Eems-Dollar
Between 2018 and 2021, Mr. Patrick Oosterlo conducted doctoral research as part of the Eems-Dollard Multi-Year Field Measurements project. Patrick's research contributed to two aspects of the project.
The aim of the PhD research is to gain more insight into the wave propagation processes in the estuary and into (very) oblique wave run-up and wave overtopping on and over the dikes. These two aspects are important for the extreme wave loads on the dike in the estuary. Based on the results of this PhD research, the uncertainties in the required crest height of the dike can possibly be reduced. The knowledge gained not only contributes to a better understanding and reduction of the uncertainties in the Eems-Dollard, but also at other locations. Furthermore, the new knowledge contributes to a better assessment of the dikes in the Netherlands and to the general knowledge of numerical wave models, wave run-up, and wave overtopping.
The study can be requested from Patrick Oosterlo (currently employed by Rijkswaterstaat WVL) at patrick.oosterlo@rws.nl.
Newsletter
We would like to inform you, as a stakeholder and interested party in the Eems-Dollard Multi-Year Field Measurements Project, via this newsletter:
Newsletter Project Long-term Field Measurements Eems-Dollard - June 2, 2021
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Would you like to stay informed? Send an email with your name tocommunicatie@noorderzijlvest.nl.
Multi-year field measurement golf course 2019 (360 video)
YouTube video: 360-degree video explaining the multi-year field measurement project. Silvia Mosterd, environmental manager, stands on the dikenear the wave tanks and briefly explains what can be seen and what the project entails. You can use your mouse to grab the image and view the film from a different angle.
(If you have any questions about the video 'Multi-year field measurement golf course 2019', please send an email to info@noorderzijlvest.nl)
Measurements on the Uithuizerwad sea wall
YouTube video: Measurements on the Uithuizerwad sea dyke, approximately 500 meters west of Eemshaven. Download video (free to use with attribution).
(If you have any questions about the video 'Measurements on the Uithuizerwad sea wall', please send an email to info@noorderzijlvest.nl)
We are going to measure the uncertainties in practice!
Wave overflow basins have been installed at two locations in the dike. These wave basins are unique! Measuring with wave basins is a new approach. The basins contain sensors that measure the rise in water level and wave action during high water situations.
- Buoys and radars collect data on wind, waves, and water levels.
- Laser equipment collects data on the thickness and behavior of waves.
- For the measurement program, it is beneficial if there are several high-water situations each year.
- All data is analyzed. This allows us to refine the assumptionsin the calculation models.
The results of the measurements help prevent dyke reinforcement from becoming unnecessarily expensive.
Placement of wave overflow tanks
Locations of golf transfer bins
- Uithuizerwad sea wall
- near Bierum
Organization
The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority is the initiator and coordinator of the project. In August 2017, NZVset up anexpert group comprising experts from Deltares, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), and Rijkswaterstaat. The experts will assist NZV throughout the entire process to achieve the project objectives as efficientlyand effectively as possible.
In 2018, Noorderzijlvest conducted a tendering procedure based on theBest ValueProcurement (BVP) method. The tender resulted in a consortiumled by Arcadis being awarded the contract to carry out the field measurements. In addition to Arcadis (responsible for project management and the calculation models for water and wave movement), the consortium includes AquaVision (instrumentation and measurements), Infram-Hydren (wave run-up/overflow), and Van der Meer Consulting (overflow expertise). In addition, there will be close cooperation on specific aspects with Rijkswaterstaat, Deltares, TU Delft, KNMI, and Groningen SeaPorts (GSP), among others. The contract with the consortium was signed on September 28, 2018.
