How do policy analysts perceive the various roles that Models, Simulations and Games (MSG) have, or can have in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)? Fifty-five policy analysts in water management in The Netherlands and China were interviewed, following the procedure of the Q-method. Comparative analysis of the combined quantitative and qualitative data show that: (1) The debate on the role of MSG for IWRM is structured around five frames in The Netherlands and three frames in China. (2) The frames in The Netherlands and China are significantly different. (3) In China, there is a predominant frame that perceives MSG for IWRM as data driven simulation technology for rationalization of water management, which is less significant in The Netherlands. (4) The reverse is true with regard to MSG for stakeholder interaction, learning and integrated assessment, which are significant frames in The Netherlands, but not in China. The conclusion is that frame differences can easily confuse professional and academic debate about MSG for water management; within the same institutional and cultural context, but even more so in Netherlands-China co-operation projects. Frames are also relevant when designing, using or evaluating innovative methods for integrated water resources management.
With climate change and urban development, water systems are changing faster than ever. Currently, the ecological status of water systems is still judged based on single point measurements, without taking into account the spatial and temporal variability of water quality and ecology. There is a need for better and more dynamic monitoring methods and technologies. Aquatic drones are becoming accessible and intuitive tools that may have an important role in water management. This paper describes the outcomes, field experiences and feedback gathered from the use of underwater drones equipped with sensors and video cameras in various pilot applications in The Netherlands, in collaboration with local water managers. It was observed that, in many situations, the use of underwater drones allows one to obtain information that would be costly and even impossible to obtain with other methods and provides a unique combination of three-dimensional data and underwater footage/images. From data collected with drones, it was possible to map different areas with contrasting vegetation, to establish connections between fauna/flora species and local water quality conditions, or to observe variations of water quality parameters with water depth. This study identifies opportunities for the application of this technology, discusses their limitations and obstacles, and proposes recommendation guidelines for new technical designs
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This CIENS-report sums up the main findings from the project “Cultural heritage and water management in urban planning” (Urban WATCH), financed by the Research Council of Norway through the MILJØ2015 programme, and cofunded by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Norway (Riksantikvaren) and the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU). The project started up in 2012 and ended in 2015.
Inleiding en praktijkvraag De groeiende wereldbevolking gecombineerd met de klimaatverandering zorgt voor een de noodzaak tot een duurzame voedselvoorziening (KIA missie Landbouw, voedsel & water). Een significante reductie van gewasbestrijdingsmiddelen is daarbinnen een belangrijke doelstelling. Robotica maakt als technologie motor van de precisielandbouw plant specifieke precisie-bestrijding mogelijk. Het projectconsortium onderzoekt een semiautonoom samenwerkend grond-luchtrobot platform voor de precisielandbouw. Projectdoelstelling De doelstelling van het project AGRobot Platform is dan ook: “Onderzoek de mogelijkheden van een semi-autonoom samenwerkend grond-lucht robotplatform voor de precisielandbouw”. De hoofddoelstelling wordt binnen dit project beantwoordt door de deliverables uit de volgende subdoelstellingen: 1. Case studie onderzoek naar de mogelijke voordelen van het grond-luchtrobotplatform 2. Onderzoek naar de benodigde technologieën voor een grond-luchtrobotplatform 3. Ontwikkelen van een eerste (mogelijk case-specifieke) demonstrator 4. Ontwikkelen van (nieuwe) samenwerkingsvormen. Vraagsturing & Netwerkvorming Riwo Engineering is een industriële automatiseeerder die met zijn grondrobots en control-besturingssytemen actief is in de veeteelt. DRONEXpert gebruikt hyperspectrale camera’s onder drones voor het bemeten van gewassen. Saxion mechatronica onderzoekt met de onderzoekslijn unmanned robotic systems hoe de nieuwste robotica technologieën systemen mogelijk maakt voor ongestructureerde omgevingen. De partners bezitten gezamenlijk een enorm netwerk (TValley, Space53, euRobotics) en klanten om via de case studies de kansen te achterhalen en te realiseren. Innovatie Nergens ter wereld is een samenwerkend grond-luchtrobot platform actief in de precisielandbouw. Voor OostNederland, met naast veel robotica kennis ook veel Agro-kennis, zal het project letterlijk de KIEM zijn voor nieuwe projecten waaruit de valorisatie kansen richting heel Europa gaan. Activiteitenplan & Projectorganisatie Het project wordt geleid door de lector Dr. Ir. D.A.Bekke en uitgevoerd door Abeje Mersha en Mark Reiling samen met het deelnemend MKB. Het project bestaat uit 4 werkpakketten die achtereenvolgens antwoordt geven op de gestelde subdoelstellingen. Aan elk werkpakket zijn deliverables gekoppeld.
This PD project aims to gather new knowledge through artistic and participatory design research within neighbourhoods for possible ways of addressing and understanding the avoidance and numbness caused by feelings of vulnerability, discomfort and pain associated with eco-anxiety and chronic fear of environmental doom. The project will include artistic production and suitable forms of fieldwork. The objectives of the PD are to find answers to the practice problem of society which call for art that sensitises, makes aware and helps initiate behavioural change around the consequences of climate change. Rather than visualize future sea levels directly, it will seek to engage with climate change in a metaphorical and poetic way. Neither a doom nor an overly techno-optimistic scenario seem useful to understand the complexity of flood risk management or the dangers of flooding. By challenging both perspectives with artistic means, this research hopes to counter eco-anxiety and create a sense of open thought and susceptibility to new ideas, feelings and chains of thought. Animation and humour, are possible ingredients. The objective is to find and create multiple Dutch water stories, not just one. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop new methods for selecting and repurposing existing impactful stories and strong images. Citizens and students will be included to do so via fieldwork. In addition, archival materials will be used. Archives serve as a repository for memory recollection and reuse, selecting material from the audiovisual archive of the Institute of Sound & Vision will be a crucial part of the creative work which will include two films and accompanying music.
The research proposal aims to improve the design and verification process for coastal protection works. With global sea levels rising, the Netherlands, in particular, faces the challenge of protecting its coastline from potential flooding. Four strategies for coastal protection are recognized: protection-closed (dikes, dams, dunes), protection-open (storm surge barriers), advancing the coastline (beach suppletion, reclamation), and accommodation through "living with water" concepts. The construction process of coastal protection works involves collaboration between the client and contractors. Different roles, such as project management, project control, stakeholder management, technical management, and contract management, work together to ensure the project's success. The design and verification process is crucial in coastal protection projects. The contract may include functional requirements or detailed design specifications. Design drawings with tolerances are created before construction begins. During construction and final verification, the design is measured using survey data. The accuracy of the measurement techniques used can impact the construction process and may lead to contractual issues if not properly planned. The problem addressed in the research proposal is the lack of a comprehensive and consistent process for defining and verifying design specifications in coastal protection projects. Existing documents focus on specific aspects of the process but do not provide a holistic approach. The research aims to improve the definition and verification of design specifications through a systematic review of contractual parameters and survey methods. It seeks to reduce potential claims, improve safety, enhance the competitiveness of maritime construction companies, and decrease time spent on contractual discussions. The research will have several outcomes, including a body of knowledge describing existing and best practices, a set of best practices and recommendations for verifying specific design parameters, and supporting documents such as algorithms for verification.
