Risk management, based on hydrodynamic modelling, is a common practice these days. The path from hydrodynamic models to risk management, however, differs per country or even per region. Implementation of effective measures can be challenging in transboundary catchments due to a lack of information about ‘the other side’, both on the data and impact side. This creates a complex situation for risk management in these kinds of river basins.
Research topic explained
My research focuses on the smaller Belgian/Dutch river basins. Specifically, it targets the Mark/Aa of Weerijs/Kleine Aa with an option to expand toward the Dommel and the ‘Gentse Kanalen’. The goal is to set up several hydrological and one hydrodynamic model(s) per river basin that enable the calculation of the impact of hydrological events and measures. This will be used to compare both the Belgian and Dutch ways of analysing risk due to floods/droughts – after establishing what these are – and to test the impact of measures across borders.
At this moment in time, the focus is on the Mark catchment as the first river basin to be investigated. A first RAT study of the catchment has been conducted to become familiar with the region. The calibration of the first hydrological model (PDM) is being finalised. Afterwards, two other hydrological models will follow. For now, the plan is to include NAM and Wflow. Once calibrated, the PDM model will be coupled to the hydrodynamic model, and the first simulations for stress-testing can be executed.