Dike deformation New satellite technology can now be used to monitor the stability of dikes in the Netherlands with great precision, thanks to research conducted by students of TU Delft’s Master’s degree program Geomatics.
The students used satellite technology to show how the dikes around Markem sunk by 10 centimeters from 1992 to 2001. This new technology uses radar measurements from satellites located 800 km above the earth. Since 1992, these satellites have measured the entire Netherlands every 35 days. Until recently, it was impossible to analyze this immense amount of data. But the students have developed a new method for retrieving useful information about dike deformation from this data and to determine, with millimeter precision, the stability of many dikes. Consequently, the students revealed that the dikes around Markem sunk by 10 centimeters between 1992 and 2001. And at least a 10-kilometer stretch of the dike near Harlingen has also sunk. The TU Delft students expect that routine use of this satellite technology can contribute to the continuous monitoring of Dutch dikes.
Living building
Hennes de Ridder, professor of Building Processes at TU Delft, and building innovators PSIBouw, co-presented a revolutionary new working method for the building industry at the ‘Living Building Concept’ exposition in Haarlem on November 16. De Ridder’s ‘Living Building Concept’ aims to introduce market processes to the building industry. De Ridder: “This change will allow the building industry to return to profitability and be creative, and buildings will be capable of evolving with the changing wishes of the users.” The way in which contractors, architects and clients currently work is fragmented. The standard course of action is for a client to hire an architect and go to the contractor with the lowest price offer. De Ridder however proposes that the building industry should adhere to normal market behavior, and, according to the revolutionary changes he proposes, would mean that architects no longer works for the client, but rather for the supplier. The client chooses from a package of creative, yet standard, building solutions, which can be routinely altered in future to satisfy the changing needs of clients. The building thus becomes a living organism.
Vital cities
Money, lots of money, is needed to keep Dutch cities vibrant and vital. From now until 2014, urban investments will total 126 billion euro, according to the ‘Reassessing Urban Investment Report 2005 . 2014’, released by TU Delft’s OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban & Mobility Studies. This figure includes all the physical investments in housing, neighborhoods, nature areas, infrastructure, culture, maintenance and other social-cultural services in the 30 cities of Holland’s ‘Major Cities Policy’.
Royal honor
Professor Chris Snijders was awarded the royal honor of ‘Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion’ in recognition of his outstanding services in developing disability equipment, medical technology and ergonomics. Snijders is part-time professor of Medical Technology at TU Delft’s Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. Snijders was behind the introduction of engineering mechanics into medical thinking in the Netherlands. This shift in emphasis has led to breakthroughs in areas including orthopedics, medical rehabilitation and prevention. After discovering errors in the reasoning behind the design of the common computer mouse, Snijders developed an alternative, known as the ‘Horse’, which has relieved RSI symptoms for many people and allowed them to resume work. Snijders enjoys a fine international reputation as a leading researcher in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, in particular lower back and pelvic disorders. Countless of his inventions and designs have led to practical applications. He has ten patents to his name.
LiveWIRE 2006
Deam and Senz Umbrellas, two young TU Delft ‘spin-off’ companies, are among the four finalists of the 2006 LiveWire Young Business Award and will be competing for the title of most innovative and successful entrepreneur on 11 December. The main prize is 10,000 euros. There is also a prize awarded by the public, consisting of commercials on Radio 538 worth 10,000 euros. Deam was nominated because of its patented bending mechanism that allows surgeons to ‘cut around corners’. This development allows smarter, faster and safer keyhole surgery. Senz Umbrellas developed the first gale-resistant umbrella, which always lines itself up correctly in the wind thanks to its patented asymmetrical shape. The design can withstand gale force 9 winds. The umbrella construction is both tough and light. The stock of 10,000 Senz umbrellas sold out within nine days of the launch. The finalists were selected from 200 innovative participants in the LiveWire program, which is an international Shell project for supporting technically innovative entrepreneurship.
Dike deformation
New satellite technology can now be used to monitor the stability of dikes in the Netherlands with great precision, thanks to research conducted by students of TU Delft’s Master’s degree program Geomatics. The students used satellite technology to show how the dikes around Markem sunk by 10 centimeters from 1992 to 2001. This new technology uses radar measurements from satellites located 800 km above the earth. Since 1992, these satellites have measured the entire Netherlands every 35 days. Until recently, it was impossible to analyze this immense amount of data. But the students have developed a new method for retrieving useful information about dike deformation from this data and to determine, with millimeter precision, the stability of many dikes. Consequently, the students revealed that the dikes around Markem sunk by 10 centimeters between 1992 and 2001. And at least a 10-kilometer stretch of the dike near Harlingen has also sunk. The TU Delft students expect that routine use of this satellite technology can contribute to the continuous monitoring of Dutch dikes.
Living building
Hennes de Ridder, professor of Building Processes at TU Delft, and building innovators PSIBouw, co-presented a revolutionary new working method for the building industry at the ‘Living Building Concept’ exposition in Haarlem on November 16. De Ridder’s ‘Living Building Concept’ aims to introduce market processes to the building industry. De Ridder: “This change will allow the building industry to return to profitability and be creative, and buildings will be capable of evolving with the changing wishes of the users.” The way in which contractors, architects and clients currently work is fragmented. The standard course of action is for a client to hire an architect and go to the contractor with the lowest price offer. De Ridder however proposes that the building industry should adhere to normal market behavior, and, according to the revolutionary changes he proposes, would mean that architects no longer works for the client, but rather for the supplier. The client chooses from a package of creative, yet standard, building solutions, which can be routinely altered in future to satisfy the changing needs of clients. The building thus becomes a living organism.
Vital cities
Money, lots of money, is needed to keep Dutch cities vibrant and vital. From now until 2014, urban investments will total 126 billion euro, according to the ‘Reassessing Urban Investment Report 2005 . 2014’, released by TU Delft’s OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban & Mobility Studies. This figure includes all the physical investments in housing, neighborhoods, nature areas, infrastructure, culture, maintenance and other social-cultural services in the 30 cities of Holland’s ‘Major Cities Policy’.
Royal honor
Professor Chris Snijders was awarded the royal honor of ‘Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion’ in recognition of his outstanding services in developing disability equipment, medical technology and ergonomics. Snijders is part-time professor of Medical Technology at TU Delft’s Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. Snijders was behind the introduction of engineering mechanics into medical thinking in the Netherlands. This shift in emphasis has led to breakthroughs in areas including orthopedics, medical rehabilitation and prevention. After discovering errors in the reasoning behind the design of the common computer mouse, Snijders developed an alternative, known as the ‘Horse’, which has relieved RSI symptoms for many people and allowed them to resume work. Snijders enjoys a fine international reputation as a leading researcher in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, in particular lower back and pelvic disorders. Countless of his inventions and designs have led to practical applications. He has ten patents to his name.
LiveWIRE 2006
Deam and Senz Umbrellas, two young TU Delft ‘spin-off’ companies, are among the four finalists of the 2006 LiveWire Young Business Award and will be competing for the title of most innovative and successful entrepreneur on 11 December. The main prize is 10,000 euros. There is also a prize awarded by the public, consisting of commercials on Radio 538 worth 10,000 euros. Deam was nominated because of its patented bending mechanism that allows surgeons to ‘cut around corners’. This development allows smarter, faster and safer keyhole surgery. Senz Umbrellas developed the first gale-resistant umbrella, which always lines itself up correctly in the wind thanks to its patented asymmetrical shape. The design can withstand gale force 9 winds. The umbrella construction is both tough and light. The stock of 10,000 Senz umbrellas sold out within nine days of the launch. The finalists were selected from 200 innovative participants in the LiveWire program, which is an international Shell project for supporting technically innovative entrepreneurship.
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