Modeling Long-term Morphological Developments of Intertidal Flats: A Comparison Among Different Modeling Approaches

Estuarine intertidal flats comprise valuable ecosystems and act as an important sediment source for the adjacent salt marsh systems. However, accelerating sea-level rise threatens the mudflats and associated ecosystems, where the mudflat accretion lag behind sea level rise. A reliable forecast on the morphological developments of the mudflat...

Intertidal Area Disappears Under Sea Level Rise: 250 Years of Morphodynamic Modeling in San Pablo Bay, California

Anticipated sea level rise (SLR) threatens intertidal areas and associated ecosystems in estuaries worldwide. There is a need to develop validated modeling tools to assess the impact of SLR on estuarine morphodynamics. This study explores the morphological impact of SLR on a channel-shoal system in San Pablo Bay, a subembayment of San...

Information/Experience center: Prelude to the landscape

Adaptation by Design: San Rafael Canal District: Keeping water out, and people in

The San Rafael canal district is an example of a high density, low-income neighborhood in a flood risk area. A combination that is becoming a global problem, and will likely grow with future climate change. In this thesis strategic spatial planning, water management interventions and goverenance policies are used alongside in an attempt to...

Sediment pathways in San Francisco South Bay

This study aims for a better understanding of the sediment pathways in San Francisco South Bay (South Bay). Many issues relevant to the Bay Area community such as shipping, recreational and commercial fishing, habitat restoration, human health, and environmental water quality are reliant on understanding sediment pathways (McKee et al. [2006])....

R.E.C. Building: Institute for water research, education and creation

The building I designed for my graduation project focused on finding ways in which to break the rules governing functions of the historic building, as said by Paul Virilio, to “inhabit the inhabitual”, by reusing and giving new functions to buildings that have been abandoned. The building will host three main functions related to a water...

The Middle Ground: Spatial Planning Under Uncertainty

Conventional spatial planning deals with hazards by bouncing back to the pre-existing situation. Intensifying manifestations of climate risk lead to unforeseen cascading effects that often surpass the level of protection offered by this type of approach (e.g. Hurricane Katrina) . In this thesis. spatial planning approach is developed that...

A River Rediscovered: Building with Nature as flood defense in urban systems

Contemporary mono-functional flood defense solutions are no longer accepted, as they tend to not take their surrounding system into account. Today’s solutions require sustainability, multi-functionality and different stakeholders want to be heard. <br/><br/>One of the concepts that offers an alternative approach is the concept of Building with...

3D Mixing patterns in San Francisco South Bay

Estuaries are complex systems that show a variety of hydrodynamic conditions. These conditions are influenced by bathymetry, geometry, climate characteristics, interacting fresh and salt water flows, and mixing effects caused by winds and wind-waves. The interaction between fresh and salt water flows in combination with mixing effects caused by...

Mudflat Morphodynamics and the Impact of Sea Level Rise in South San Francisco Bay

Estuarine tidal mudflats form unique habitats and maintain valuable ecosystems. Historic measurements of a mudflat in San Fancsico Bay over the past 150 years suggest the development of a rather stable mudflat profile. This raises questions on its origin and governing processes as well as on the mudflats’ faith under scenarios of sea level...