MSc Thesis proposal

Building with Nature Solutions in Flood Defenses

Looking for a student to start straightaway (early 2020).

Applying nature-based solutions in flood defenses is not common practice, because of the lack of design codes and a full understanding of the statistical implications. The effect of nature-based solutions on wave attenuation, involving vegetation, are well-researched. However, implementing nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction demands addressing temporal and spatial variability on local scales. Temporal variability is introduced by seasonal influences, biological influences, and climate change. The interaction with water can introduce spatial variability by natural processes like sedimentation and erosion.

The exceedance probabilities of most flood defenses are low, which leaves little room for variability in design. There is variability in nature (both hydrodynamics and vegetation) which introduces uncertainty in design conditions. This uncertainty is sometimes covered by over dimensioning and mostly a different design choice. To prevent over dimensioning, we would like to introduce multidimensional statistical models (such Bayesian Networks (BN) or vine-copulas) in order to capture dependence among variables.

On the other hand, nature-based solutions can have the ability to adapt in a changing climate and allowing to contribute to a sustainable flood defense design. Nature-based solutions for crest height reduction of flood defenses are most effective in non-fluvial environments (e.g. lakes and coastal areas).

For this master thesis project, we will focus on variability of (a selection of) nature-based solutions for flood defenses. The project aims to develop methods which allow for a safe design and account temporal- and/or spatial variability. Variability could be studied by quantifying dependence of hydraulic (wave height, period, water depth) and vegetation parameters (stem height, frontal width, vegetation density, drag coefficient, forest length) on seasonal variations and spatial locations.

The thesis would be carried out at Witteveen+Bos (WB). Solid background in probabilistic design and hydraulic engineering with interest in nature-based solutions would be appreciated. Tentative start is early 2020. Tentative committee is Oswaldo Morales Nápoles (TUD), Tom Wilms (WB), Bart van Es (WB, Daily), Hassan Niazi (TUD).

To apply send an email with your transcript of MSc results to Hassan Niazi at M.H.K.Niazi@tudelft.nl with CC to Bart van Es at Bart.van.Es@witteveenbos.com.

Furthermore, we are open to working together with other partners, contact Bart van Es for collaborations. You can find this proposal on Brightspace as well.

Bart van Es
Flood protection - Witteveen+Bos
Bart.van.Es@witteveenbos.com

Niazi, M.H.K. (Hassan)
Flood Risk (HSFR & CE) - TUDelft
M.H.K.Niazi@tudelft.nl