One-third of the Dutch dike system consists of peat dikes. Drought causes these dikes to crack and fail more easily. Visual dike inspections are therefore inefficient, especially considering the increasing climate changes of the future. Research has shown that a fiber optic sensor cable (FOS), used in distributed temperature sensing (DTS), can help measure soil thermal responses, but the question remains whether it is also suitable as a replacement for visual inspections of dikes. This study helps to answer this question by coupling a finite element method (FEM) model with measured DTS information collected at Flood Proof Holland (Delft). In addition, (thermal) images are used to calibrate the FEM model. The measurement period was 20 summer days. The measured data consisted of webcam images, thermal images, and temperature time series of a FOS cable. The meteorological data was obtained via a weather station located in Rotterdam. The FEM model, calibrated and validated with the measured data, helped to find the thermal response of the system in situations of which no data was available, for example having various crack dimensions, cable positions or climatic conditions. The more distinguished the material properties of air and soil are (days with high water content and/or high radiation), the better the crack detection via DTS. After correction for the overestimation influence of radiation on the black FOS cable on sunny afternoons, the thermal response of the crack is corresponding to the air temperature more compared to the thermal response of grass. Crack detection via DTS turned out to be possible by x,T- and t,T-plots (diurnal temperature variation) and a regression plot with the daily peak-to-peak amplitude of the air temperature on the one hand and the daily peak-to-peak amplitude of the cable on the other. The advantage of the regression plot is that only one DTS thermal time series is needed to determine if the segment is most likely cracked or not. Furthermore, the peak-to-peak axes allow for diurnal climatic condition indications, and with it the heat storage and release of the system: rainy, cloudy days are in lower axis regions whereas sunny, clear days are in higher axis regions. However, due to a small measurement period, this method is only fully proven for sunny afternoons. Future studies have to map the thermal processes for other situations too.

What long ago started as a small fishing village, seeking refuge from the Romans, slowly evolved into the city of Venice that we know today. With its unique location came unique problems, most of which were related to the interplay between Venice and its lagoon. By severe measures in the past it has continued to withstand the test of time.
In the decades to come, Venice, once again, has found itself in a difficult situation. Like has been done in the past, drastic measures are required to deal with the current and upcoming difficulties threatening the survival of Venice. These difficulties range from over-tourism to sea-level rise and the subsiding of the city. Acting like the Magistrato alle Acque acted in the past, extreme visions where laid out as possible solutions to these threats.
A workshop week with focus on interdisciplinary design formed the basis for two extreme visions which are laid out in this report. With the aim of answering the main research question: How do flood defense systems influence the spatial aspects of the territory in the context of a high dynamic landscape in the Anthropocene?
The plan for the Perfect Lagoon is one of these, which has focuses on tackling all of the current and upcoming problems were the emphasis lies on preserving and perfecting the lagoon using the building with nature philosophy, while also saving the city from drowning. Preservation is done by solving the sediment budget problems. Due to the constantly eroding system, salt marshes and land is slowly disappearing.
In this plan, drastic actions will be taken to counteract the constant erosion as well as the effect that sea level rise will have on this unique estuary. Drastic measures like redirecting rivers and re-purposing the MOSE contribute towards this goal.
After preservation comes restoration as one of the goals is to restore and increase ecological value, restoration of salt marshes and removal of negative influences like pollution.
As a second vision, the plan of the Symbiotic System deals with the same problems but here the emphasis lies on interconnectedness of Veneto. More attention is paid to mass tourism. The plan aims to turn Venice into a modern interconnected metropolitan area. The city and the lagoon will be treated as two separated system where the focus lies completely on the city of Venice. The lagoon will be left to its own devices in order to find a new, still unknown, equilibrium.
These visions are then further worked out and explained, and for both visions, technical design are made to, step-by-step, bring these visions closer to reality. From these visions along with their technical design we can conclude that flood defence systems have a major influence in the spacial aspects of the territory. Not only in its primary function, but more importantly in the secondary functions. Both primary and secondary functions can be used to create a paradigm shift for the territory. Using the multidisciplinary approach, an integral design can be made for the flood defence, in which the opportunities in a territory can be maximized.