TU Delft is a part of groundbreaking water research which will ensure better and safer living during hurricanes in the US state of Texas.
The Netherlands, and especially TU Delft, is respected across the globe for expertise in water management. After the disastrous fallout from Hurricane Ike, decision makers in Texas turned to TU Delft to help improve and rebuild their coastal defense. They will be implementing a new design – a moveable flood barrier. This will provide dual functionality, to seal off the bay near Galveston and Houston to protect from future storm surges while allowing shipping and ecosystem preservation to continue on a day-to-day basis.
This research design project is being carried out in conjunction with two private parties in the Netherlands, Royal HaskoningDHV and Iv-Infra and with some participation from Texas A&M University. “There is some funding from Texas, but at this point the project is in its initial stages and being carried out on a small-scale,” says Professor Bas Jonkman, who is leading the research at TU Delft. “We expect to be wrapping up our research within two years, with actual implementation taking place no sooner than 2018.”
A joint research project, with student exchanges between Texas and Delft for research and thesis projects is also in talks. “On a larger scale, we are looking for opportunities to apply for a research grant together with the Texas universities, which should come into play next year some time,” says Jonkman.
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