Nested algorithms for optimal reservoir operation and their embedding in a decision support platform

Reservoir operation is a multi-objective optimization problem traditionally solved with dynamic programming (DP) and stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) algorithms. The thesis presents novel algorithms for optimal reservoir operation named nested DP (nDP), nested SDP (nSDP), nested reinforcement learning (nRL) and their multi-objective (MO)...

Global analysis of population growth and river water quality

SimDelta global: Towards a standardised interactive model for water infrastructure development

The research project ‘SimDelta’ builds on novel internet technology to support the development of the Rhine-Meuse delta water infrastructure. It has three goals: education, organisation of research and design studies, and stakeholder polling. A current question is how the SimDelta technology could be made transferable to systems outside Europe,...

City Blueprints: 24 Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of the Urban Water Cycle

Climate change, population growth and increased consumption, coupled with urbanization, are all placing increased pressure on water management. This global challenge can often best be addressed at the local level, e.g. in cities by optimizing the role of civil society. Although there are approaches for assessing the sustainability of countries...

Mining activities in a coastal zone: Effects and remedial measures in the Netherlands

In July, 1959, the presence of gas in the subsoil of the Province of Groningen in the extreme NE part of the Netherlands was confirmed. Subsequently, it became clear that the mining of the gas would result in considerable subsidence and a disruption of the drainage system of an area adjacent to the North Sea, and situated already partly below...

A parsimonious hydrological model for a data scarce dryland region

Inapplicability of state of the art hydrological models due to scarce data motivates the need for a modeling approach that can be well constrained to available data and still model the dominant processes. Such an approach requires embedded model relationships to be simple and parsimonious in parameters for robust model selection. Simplicity in...

Present & Future: Visualising ideas of water infrastructure design

In redevelopment and redesign of small water structures local water governing institutions are increasingly required to and requesting that the planning processes are set up in a participatory manner. Participatory decision making processes are set up to bring stakeholders with different backgrounds, ideas, experiences and expertise together....

Adaptive Water Governance: Assessing the Institutional Prescriptions of Adaptive (Co-)Management from a Governance Perspective and Defining a Research Agenda

This article assesses the institutional prescriptions of adaptive (co-)management based on a literature review of the (water) governance literature. The adaptive (co-)management literature contains four institutional prescriptions: collaboration in a polycentric governance system, public participation, an experimental approach to resource...

Dynamic Water-System Control - Design and Operation of Regional Water-Resources Systems

The Allocation of Tasks and Competencies in Dutch Water Management: Discussions, developments and present state

This report discusses subsidiarity in Dutch water management and forms the Dutch contribution to the Water 21 Phase II report on subsidiarity. Rather than discussing the Dutch interpretations of the concept (the concept is used almost exclusively in relation to the European Union), this report discusses the substantive issue to which ...

Matching research and policy in integrated water management

Scale issues in the governance of water storage projects

In the face of global change, which is characterized by growing water demands and increasingly variable water supplies, the equitable sharing of water and the drought proofing of rural livelihoods will require an increasing physical capacity to store water. This is especially true for the semiarid and dry subhumid regions of sub-Saharan Africa...