From optimal to practical safety standards for dike-ring areas

After the flood disaster in 1953 in the southwestern part of the Netherlands, Van Dantzig tried to solve the economic decision problem concerning the optimal height of dikes. His solution has a fixed probability of flooding after each investment (Econometrica, 1956). However, when there is economic growth, not the probability of flooding but the...

Veiligheid tegen overstromen: Kosten-batenanalyse voor Ruimte voor de Rivier, deel 1

This report is part 1 of a Cost-Benefit Analysis of the project ‘Space for the Rivers’, which aims at improving the safety against flooding along the river Rhine. A new method has been developed to find the optimal safety level for dike rings against flooding and the accompanying investment strategy. This method has been applied to 22 dike rings...