Integrated coastal policy via Building with Nature

The thesis which appears here is excerpted from the book Integrated Coastal Zone Development via Building with Nature® (Waterman 2008a, 2008b). Although this approach was first applied in the Netherlands, it has gradually been recognized worldwide as a harmonious means of creating land areas for living, working, tourism & recreation, and...

Introducing guidelines for eco-dynamic development and design

One of the key activities within the Building with Nature innovation programme is the development of a guideline for Eco-dynamic Development and Design. This guidance will be focussed on implementation of the Building with Nature principles throughout all of the stages of hydraulic engineering projects (initiation, planning & design,...

On the border of water and land

Inaugural speech, spoken at the occasion of acceptance of the position of full professor of Coastal Engineering at Delft University of Technology.

In situ soil permeability reduction through Al and OM precipitation as a geoengineering tool for dike stabilization: (Abstract)

Development of a nature-based Geo-engineering solution to reduce soil permeability in-situ

Stability of dikes is a national security issue for densely populated low-lying countries situated in delta areas, like the Netherlands. One of the dominant dike failuremechanisms in the Netherlands is piping, where high seepage flow rates transport sand particles and subsequently form a ’pipe’ under a dike structure. As such, one manner to...

Editorial: Building with Nature perspectives

This publication offers an overview of the latest cross-disciplinary developments in the field of Building with Nature (BwN) for the protection of coastal regions. The key philosophy of BwN is the employment of natural processes to serve societal goals, such as flood safety. The starting point is a systems-based approach, making interventions...

Modeling Decadal Salt Marsh Development: Variability of the Salt Marsh Edge Under Influence of Waves and Sediment Availability

Salt marshes can contribute to coastal protection, but the magnitude of the protection depends on the width of the marsh. The cross-shore width of the marsh is to a large extent determined by the delicate balance between seaward expansion and landward retreat. The influence of the magnitude of daily occurring mild weather conditions and...

Subaqueous and Subaerial Beach Changes after Implementation of a Mega Nourishment in Front of a Sea Dike

Sandy nourishments can provide additional sediment to the coastal system to maintain its recreational or safety function under rising sea levels. These nourishments can be implemented at sandy beach systems, but can also be used to reinforce gray coastal infrastructure (e.g., dams, dikes, seawalls). The Hondsbossche Dunes project is a combined...

To Plant or Not to Plant: When can Planting Facilitate Mangrove Restoration?

Global change processes such as sea level rise and the increasing frequency of severe storms threaten many coastlines around the world and trigger the need for interventions to make these often densely-populated areas safer. Mangroves could be implemented in Nature-Based Flood Defense, provided that we know how to conserve and restore these...