Collaborating on Artworks
On the High Water Protection Program (HWBP) are hundreds of hydraulic structures in a primary flood defense system. Like the levees, these structures must all be safe by 2050. It is a challenge to deliver this in the next 25 years. That's one structure safe every three weeks!
This task is not only huge, knowledge and expertise are scarce, time to 2050 is limited and we are dealing with a physical environment that is changing in several ways. We will only succeed if we work together: water boards, Rijkswaterstaat, market parties and knowledge institutions. The project Working Together on Art Works was created to enthuse, support and facilitate this task.
HHNK has experience with such collaborations. That is why the project team is housed here.
Unified and effective approach for a stable program
To be ready on time, we want to tackle the task faster and in coherence. With frugal as a starting point and now more sustainable. We see a great need for stable implementation. So what does it take to be ready by 2050?
First, a solid production rate. This is where a uniform approach and/or scenarios helps. This way the water boards can see what is the most convenient approach for them. We develop this approach and we also agree on difficult dilemmas.
In addition, knowledge is needed. That is, to pick up where it is already on the shelf or create where it is still lacking. Knowledge creation, knowledge transfer and knowledge transmission are therefore central concepts. We want to scale up production, but also keep a grip and monitor stability. Stability for the HWBP (in production fluctuations and money flows), stability for the market parties (insight into what, when and how it comes onto the market) and stability for the administrators for their own internal portfolio.
Check out the project website with interactive Map.
The impact of the project
Engineering structures are different from dikes and require their own approach. Also to seize opportunities that remain unexploited by 'just' including engineering structures in a dike project. With Working Together on Art Works we are working concretely on this:
- (Stimu)learning from "doing. Connect to past experiences and projects in progress. This helps to make the urgency palpable, practical stories have a stronger contribution than theoretical insights.
- Broad about the Alliance, water boards and the Department of Public Works (RWS). RWS has now gathered a lot of knowledge that is also relevant to water boards and would like to share it, learn together and thus develop new knowledge.
- Approach to match current urgency and concrete questions at water boards. Water boards that later feel urgency and have questions should be able to join later.
- Contribute to stability of the program by collaborating in the golden triangle with market and knowledge players.
The intended end result
Working Together on Works of Art provides products, services and activities that help address more water retaining structures in a primary barrier at a faster pace.
Project planning
In 2021, the task was Map and, among other things, an Artwork Route was developed. A standard roadmap shows the route whether an artwork needs only maintenance or renewal. In addition, the route makes visible which choice can be made where.
Currently (2024) we are working toward the goals (faster, frugal, more sustainable, more stable) along the following tracks:
- Providing insight into the task using figures via an interactive Map and a publication in which the task is arranged by water board, type of structure and failure mechanism, the so-called "red booklet.
- Developing a Roadmap Sustainable Works of Art.
- Unlocking knowledge, through a public wiki, hosted by knowledge partner Deltares.
- Developing concrete cooperation projects between water boards, RWS and market participants.
For questions and information
Want to know more or ask questions? Want to share knowledge with us or contribute to the project goals? Email the project team at sk@hhnk.nl. For more background information visit the project website www.samenwerkenaankunstwerken.nl or www.hwbp.nl.
Flood Protection Program
In the HWBP, water boards and Rijkswaterstaat are working together on the biggest task since the Delta Works. The ground is being broken in many places in the Netherlands. In addition to the 1,500 kilometers of dyke reinforcement, the engineering structures will also be tackled over the next thirty years. This is necessary because the Netherlands is vulnerable to flooding. We are doing everything we can to prevent the next flood. We are working together to create a country where people can live, work and relax safely. We will join forces, pass the buck to each other, observe each other's practices and learn together. We are therefore working together with market parties and knowledge institutes to strengthen the hydraulic structures in primary flood defenses just as well as the dikes by 2050.
