Dutch dike experts not only putting a finger in the dike

Simulated dike breach expected this month in Groningen

At the end of September a dike will be breached in Groningen's Bellingwedde. A water barrier six metres in height and a hundred meters in length will collapse under extremely high water levels. Every detail of the breach will be monitored by sensors in the dike and cameras positioned in and above the area. But there is no threat to the surrounding area. On the contrary: the 'disaster' is intended to contribute to our country's safety. Stichting IJkdijk is carrying out large-scale trials in Groningen with technology designed to inspect the quality of our water barriers. The trial is the biggest experiment of its type.

Sensors have been an everyday aspect of cars and all sorts of equipment for years. They alert us to worn brakes or overheating. But there is nothing everyday about sensors that help to prevent dike breaches. The latest sensor technologies and IT resources are being tested on dikes in the Ijkdijk located in the polder at Bellingwedde. They will make it possible for experts to watch and listen to the dike until it collapses. 'From finger in the dike to finger on the pulse', says Harm Aantjes of Stichting IJkdijk.

A water barrier with a height of 6 metres and a length of about 100 metres has been built at the Ijkdijk test location for this purpose. The water barrier will be forced to collapse by imitating an extreme high water situation. The trial is needed to gain a clearer understanding of the mechanisms that cause a water barrier to fail. It is usually possible to predict an actual breach on the basis of how the water barrier behaves in extreme high water situations, but also during lengthy dry periods. The sensor technology and IT resources being tested will make it possible to improve dike inspection methods and to develop water management systems to monitor dikes and counter emergencies. The advance of these technologies and the implementation of real time monitoring will make it possible to prevent future dike breaches. The IJkdijk is thus providing a powerful impulse for innovations in the development of the 'smart dike'.

The knowledge gained with this micro-stability test will lead to a clearer understanding of the actual strenght of the dike. The knowledge will contribute to the long-term Sterkte Belasting Waterkeringen ('Strenght Load Water Barriers') project being conducted by Rijkswaterstaat (the Director-General for Public Works and Water Management). The Netherlands has some 3700 km of primary water barriers. It is not always known whether these barriers meet the safety standards or are high and strong enough to continue to hold back the water. Adding this knowledge will make it possible to take measures to ensure that the Netherlands stays safe.

The Objective of Stichting IJkdijk is to develop, integrate and validate dike sensor technology. Large-scale trials are being carried out for that prupose. Stichting IJkdijk is an initiative of the partners Deltares, IDL, NOM, STOWA and TNO. The following organisations are taking part in the macro-stability experiment: Alert Solutions, Intech, IBM, Ten Cate, Inventec, GTC Kappelmeyer, DikeSurvey, Koenders, Landustrie, Volker Wessels, MiraMap, RPS BCC and IFCO. The experiment is supported by Rijkswaterstaat, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Northern Netherlands Provinces (SNN), Staatsbosbeheer and Waterschap Hunze en Aa's. The IJkdijk is situated in a small polder to the south of Nieuweschans in Groningen.