Sustainable and resilient coastal cities
Nature-based solutions can be highly beneficial to coastal management and policy making, but are still underused due to a clear knowledge gap. The Sustainable and Resilient Coastal Cities (SARCC) project aims to bridge this gap. Researchers from BK Bouwkunde and the faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences received a € 480.000,- Interreg grant to create interdisciplinary innovations and implement the findings in seven case study locations. The project builds upon the longstanding collaboration between the faculties within the Delft Infrastructure and Mobility Initiative and capitalises on the acquired experience with interdisciplinary design.
Research group Delta Urbanism of BK Bouwkunde collaborates in this project with Hydraulic Engineering of the faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences. The research project anticipates on extreme see level rise and explores the possibilities of nature-based solutions (NBS) in coastal cities. The potential to mitigate the threat of sea level rise through NBS is scarcely researched. The goal of SARCC is to integrate NBS in urban coastal management and policies. This can mean NBS are used as stand-alone solutions, or integrated within existing grey infrastructure and flood defences.
The SARCC project brings together expertise from urban leaders and knowledge institutions across England, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium (Flanders). It connects experts in urban design, coastal management and policy, climate adaptation, stakeholder engagement and NBS, with experience of different coastal issues or policy approaches. This enables the experts to co-design and develop a solution that can be deployed by coastal communities across the North Sea and Celtic Sea, who want to utilise NBS in their coastal management and policies.
One of the case study locations is Vlissingen. The most effective solutions in preparing for sea level rise are explored, while simultaneously maintaining public space quality. The municipality researches this issue in close collaboration with BK Bouwkunde and Civil Engineering & Geosciences, as well as Rijkswaterstaat, HZ University of Applied Sciences, and other SARCC-partners. PhD researcher Yuka Yoshida uses the location to further develop existing knowledge from her research ‘Room for the Delta’, working towards implementation and on-site testing of solutions.
Interreg 2 Seas is a European Territorial Cooperation programme covering England, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium (Flanders), and is partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The programme aims to develop an innovative, knowledge and research based, sustainable and inclusive 2 Seas area, where natural resources are protected and the green economy is promoted.
More information
For more information, contact Fransje Hooimeijer or visit Interreg 2 Seas.