The document discusses the challenges and strategies for creating flood-proof eco-cities, specifically highlighting the increasing urbanization and vulnerability of delta regions. It emphasizes the importance of adapting urban water systems as energy sources and involving citizens in planning and recovery processes to enhance resilience against climate change. Various examples and concepts, such as floating cities and multifunctional uses of urban spaces, are presented as innovative solutions to reduce environmental vulnerabilities.

1. DeltaSync BV, the Netherlands
Dr. ir. Rutger de Graaf
The Water City
Innovations for flood proof eco-cities

2. Trends

3. Trends and traditional approach lead to deltas
that are:
• Increasingly urbanized
• Increasingly under sea level
• Increasingly dependent on large scale, globalizing
networks of energy, water and food supply
• Increasingly vulnerable to floods and droughts
Graaf, R.E. de, F.H.M. van de Ven and N.C. van de Giesen (2007), The Closed City as a strategy to reduce vulnerability of urban areas for
climate change. Water Science and Technology, Vol 56 No 4, pp 165-173, IWA Publishing, London
Why change?

4. Possible responses towards environmental variation to
reduce vulnerability:
• Reduce environmental variation  Build a threshold,
example:
• Reduce damage if threshold is exceeded  Develop
ability to cope with impacts
• Recover quickly and effectively after damage 
Develop ability to recover
• If future variation is uncertain  Develop ability to
adapt
The concept of vulnerability
Graaf, R.E. de, F.H.M. van de Ven and N.C. van de Giesen (2007), The Closed City as a strategy to reduce vulnerability of urban areas for
climate change. Water Science and Technology, Vol 56 No 4, pp 165-173, IWA Publishing, London

5. Type Time
orientation
Responsibility
Threshold
Capacity
Damage
prevention
Past Clear
Coping
Capacity
Damage
reduction
Instant Not clear
Recovery
Capacity
Damage
reaction
Instant/
future
Not clear
Adaptive
Capacity
Damage
anticipation
Future Undefined
The concept of vulnerability
Graaf, R.E. de, F.H.M. van de Ven and N.C. van de Giesen (2007), The Closed City as a strategy to reduce vulnerability of urban areas for
climate change. Water Science and Technology, Vol 56 No 4, pp 165-173, IWA Publishing, London

6. The concept of vulnerability
• Vulnerability of a system is difficult to assess
because components of vulnerability are strongly
interrelated.
• Example: Increased flood defense leads to
increased urbanization and a decreased flood
risk perception.

7. Predicting future water cities, is it possible?
«There is no reason anyone would want a
computer in their home.»
- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), maker of big
business mainframe computers, arguing against the PC in 1977.

8. 1. Water system as a source
• Energy
• Nutrients
2. More functions for urban water
• Element urban design and urbanization
• Ecosystem
• Mobility
Floodproof Ecocities(1)

9. 3. Involvement of citizens
• Local water and energy companies
• Local technologies
• Citizens as co-producer
4. More initiative for water manager
• Involved early in the process
• Important role for design and visualisation
• Entrepreneurial approach
5. Safety and security
• Multifunctional use of space in cities
• Protection of hotspots
• Multilayer approach: shelter, and recovery planning
Floodproof Ecocities(2)

10. Water
systems as a
source
More
functions for
urban water
Initiative for
water
manager
Safety and
security
Involvement
of citizens
Floodproof Ecocity

11. Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES)
Source: IAE, 2005

12. The ATES+ concept
Graaf, R.E. de, F.H.M. van de Ven, I. Miltenburg, G. van Ee, L.C.E. van de Winckel en G. van Wijk (2008), Exploring the Technical and Economic
Feasibility of using the Urban Water System as a Sustainable Energy Source. Thermal Science Vol 12, No 4, pp 35-50

13. Rathaus Zurich
Oldest surface water heatpump system in
Europe (1938)
• Design capacity 70 kW (heating and
cooling)
• Current heating capacity: 210 kW
• Current cooling capacity 130 kW
• Minimal water temperature Limmat 4oC
• Maximal watertemperature Limmat 25oC
Water as heatsource: examples

14. Rotterdam: Heat from the river Meuse (Ingenieur 2008.1)
Water as heatsource: examples

15. Den Bosch, heat and cooling from pond on
top of parking garage
(Essent, energieprojecten.nl)
Water as heatsource: examples

16. Den Haag: Heat from the North Sea
Water as heatsource: examples

17. Water
systems as a
source
More
functions for
urban water
Initiative for
water
manager
Safety and
security
Involvement
of citizens
Floodproof Ecocity

18. The floating City concept

19. Floating buildings in the Netherlands

20. FLOATING PAVILION
Pilot project for Floodproof Urbanisation

21. FLOATING PAVILION
Construction Process

22. Flexibility

23. FLOATING PAVILION
Green Technology

24. The NEXT STEP towards floating urbanisation
Current practice Next steps

25. Floating City Almere

26. Ecology and Urban development

27. Water for mobility

28. Water for mobility

29. Water
systems as a
source
More
functions for
urban water
Initiative for
water
manager
Safety and
security
Involvement
of citizens
Floodproof Ecocity

30. RESEARCH
Self-Sufficient utilities

31. Floating Houses Harnaschpolder

32. Floating Houses Harnaschpolder

33. Water
systems as a
source
More
functions for
urban water
Initiative for
water
manager
Safety and
security
Involvement
of citizens
Floodproof Ecocity

36. Water
systems as a
source
More
functions for
urban water
Initiative for
water
manager
Safety and
security
Involvement
of citizens
Floodproof Ecocity

37. Source: MLIT, 2005
Japan: superlevee

38. Floodproofing Hotspots

39. Floodproofing Hotspots
Normal situation During a flood

40. Water
systems as a
source
More
functions for
urban water
Initiative for
water
manager
Safety and
security
Involvement
of citizens
Floodproof Ecocity

41. For more information:
DeltaSync
Molengraaffsingel 12-14
2629 JD Delft
Netherlands
Dr. ir. Rutger de Graaf
T: +31 152561872
C: +31 616308790
www.deltasync.nl