Strategische Agenda 2022-2025

24 MOONSHOT: deltas remain habitable, even with two metres of sea level rise, land subsidence and climate change Throughout the world, deltas and low-lying areas are contending with increasing urbanisation and spatial pressure on rural areas. In the Dutch Delta, we are facing the challenge of building one million extra houses. In addition to other planning issues with major spatial consequences, such as the transitions involving energy, agriculture and nature. And more is coming our way. The land is subsiding, the sea level is rising and climate change is also altering weather patterns. These phenomena restrict the space available for solutions. All this means that deltas worldwide are facing complex planning challenges. The planning challenge facing the Netherlands requires an integrated approach that strikes a balance between living, working, nature and agriculture in a changing landscape. Much of our work is geared to determining how long we can continue with the current structure of our soil and water systems. How long we will be safe behind our flood defences, and how long we can continue to deliver enough fresh water? Adaptive delta management translates the uncertain future into time intervals for the future. During that process, it maps out howmuch longer we can continue on the existing road. In this moonshot, Deltares provides a picture of the pathways we can take for the long term. This starts with understanding the physical and socio-ecological changes of the future in densely populated delta areas. That applies not only to the Netherlands but also to foreign deltas. It involves looking at the possible situation of deltas in the future if the sea level rises by two metres. We do not know when this will become a reality but we are going to work out the details of what we will have to do then. Because knowing what we can or must do in response to this challenging transformation will give us the opportunity to make the best use of the time we still have. We provide the scope of solutions needed to take innovative measures to reduce land subsidence, and to adapt to sea level rise and a changing climate. Within this framework, the infrastructure must also be built and replaced on climate-robust lines and we are developing a new strategy for coping with salt water. A detailed and confidence-inspiring future with two metres of sea level rise. That is at the heart of our mission: safe, future-proof, sustainable with resilient infrastructure. In this moonshot, we want to ensure that the South­ western Delta of the Netherlands is ready for the future. At the same time, it allows us to learn lessons for and from other areas, gives professional specialists the opportunity to expand their knowledge and allows for the formation of a new generation of hydraulic engineers. This involves close collaboration with the national government, our knowledge partners, engineering firms, contractors, nature organisations and regional administrators. 3.2 | Area 2: fast forwarding data and software development With the existing software, models and data facilities, Deltares has a sound knowledge base on which to build. At the same time, we have seen that a higher gear is needed in view of our role as an important knowledge partner for government authorities and market parties using the opportunities afforded by new technology. That is why we are making major investments in strengthening our data and computing infrastructure, as well as our agility and speed in the field of data-driven methods and software development. We see the use of these technological developments and the possibilities of co-creation with others in that area as the key to continuing to supply and develop relevant knowledge. Knowledge that is needed to find solutions for the enormous challenges we face transcending different domains and boundaries. To develop, test and optimise innovative solutions that work in practice. New technology and co-creation in software and data Technological developments, particularly in the field of earth observation, artificial intelligence (AI), visualisation, digital twinning, and cloud computing, are having a major impact on the work of Deltares. Cloud computing, for example, is becoming more accessible, faster and more affordable. Datasets are becoming available in more and more temporal and spatial detail. By combining data analysis and numerical models, we can process and use data at different scales. Deepening our system knowledge and allowing us to make it even more accessible. Chapter 3 Strategic directions: our priorities

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