Delta Life 9

20 B lockchain, robotics, artificial intelligence. What is the link between these widely-discussed innovations and dams, dikes and resilient cities? Well, these new techno­ logies could soon have a major impact on the design, measurement and moni­ toring of deltas. That is why Deltares is pushing the development of new techno­ logies in 2018. Artificial Intelligence doing much more with satellite data By making increasingly smart use of the freely available data in Google Earth Engine, a worldwide platform for the analysis of datasets of this kind, infor­ mation is becoming more and more detailed. This is being done with a learning algorithm that analyses and visualises the data on a world map. The Aqua monitor uses satellite images to show accurately where water has been converted into land and vice-versa.  How does that help? A single operation produces endless information that is available to every­ one about the water and land balance, including remote and isolated areas. On a regional scale, a downstream state can see whether their neighbours up­ stream are extracting water. Inter­ national authorities can use the data to check where new storage capacity – reservoirs, for example – is being created that reduces the risk of flooding. Three dreams of technical breakthroughs By focusing on new technologies, we are learning more and more about the delta. What are we working on and what will be the significance for policymakers and administrators? Looking to the future with three promising examples. BY ASTRID VAN BRAGT IMAGE DELTARES