evaluation of the Resilient by Nature approach since its introduction and related spin off business opportunities

1. ©
Marco
Pluijm,
26/02/2017
© Marco Pluijm
Resilient by Nature, Revisited
Marco Pluijm M.Sc
Senior Expert Ports and Coasts
Key Elements: Climate Change; Extreme Event Impacts; Resilient by Nature, Business Opportunities
Setting
The first publications about the Resilient by Nature approach were shared in the
public domain in June 2016. Another 16 papers have followed since. Sparking off
and feeding into what appears to be an inspiring, creative and most and for all very
useful and productive exchange of information and ideas. With input and support
from basically all corners of the world.
The issue of accelerated climate change and related extreme weather impacts is hot.
And for good reasons. Climate change comes much faster and more intense than so
far anticipated for. The consequences are often devastating and adequate response
strategies and mitigating measures are hard to find. Many traditional solutions
appear to have become inadequate.
The approach Resilient by Nature has chosen is to gather and expand a set of
adequate experience based physical response strategies and means, which do work
and provide the right levels of protection, based on lessons learned from coastal
areas and features which have been hit by at least one or more extreme weather
events, without suffering from too much damage or no damage at all. Coastal
systems with the ability to recover soon after the event by themselves.
Demonstrating and performing natural resilience.
Systems with the capacity to be transferred as effective and sustainable qualities and
solutions to more vulnerable coastal stretches elsewhere in the world. Thus following
a true holistic, system based approach.

2. ©
Marco
Pluijm,
26/02/2017
More background information about the Resilient by Nature approach can be found
on
http://www.slideshare.net/MarcoPluijm/resilient-­‐by-­‐nature-­‐update-­‐27012017
Because the Resilient by Nature approach in itself is as dynamic as the features it is
dealing with, reason to rethink, renew and evaluate the approach and basic
principles on a regular basis. After almost 9 months since its introduction, it’s now the
time to revisit the Resilient by Nature approach, evaluate and define opportunities for
development potential.
Evaluation
After evaluation of the overall setting and methodology of the Resilient by Nature
approach, supported by external peer reviews, conversations and extensive mail
exchanges with contributors around the world, which support is highly appreciated, it
is concluded that the Resilient by Nature approach is solid, robust and suitable for
transfer and further implementation in other, more vulnerable areas.
The degree of accelerated climate change differs per region and so does the need
for suitable flood and impact protection adjustments and improvements. And so the
need for a Resilient by Nature type of approach, type and range of components and
building blocks.
What’s very obvious, is that where changes are most apparent and intense, such as
large parts of the US and Asia, adaptation and upgrading to a much more adequate
coastal defense strategy is equally more urgent than in regions with much less
exposure and related impacts, such as Europe.
Common approach with regard to coastal protection against flooding and other
extreme weather impacts and erosion, is usually based on maintaining safety levels
and position of a predefined coastline by means of coastal features and structures,
such as dunes, dikes and levees, in some cases in combination with artificial
nourishment as part of the maintenance strategy. Rehabilitation of vegetation can be
part of this too.
A strategy which basically comes down to a very much two-dimensional approach,
holding the line, leaving very little to no margin for natural regeneration or resilience.
In case, as we are experiencing today, when the impact conditions are changing
faster than originally anticipated for and become more intense, this becomes an even
more pressing limitation.
The way to go, in order to be prepared and effective under these changing
conditions, is to move away from the current pretty much 2-dimensional reactive
coastline defense approach towards proactive, 3-dimensioanl energy dissipation
zones. Which in itself is not new. What’s new is the way and means to do it, making
use of natural coastal features which are usually not taken into account as part of the
traditional approach. Or not brought up to par nor (re-)introduced as part of the
overall solution.
Covering the zone between say the most landward 4 or 5 meter depth contour and
the most seaward 15 to 20 meter depth contour, including all coastal features in
between.

3. ©
Marco
Pluijm,
26/02/2017
Coastal features such as sand banks, sand waves, shore parallel ridges, submerged-
and overflow barriers, etcetera. Hybrid solutions in combination with sustainable
polders and levees can be additional elements and solution providers.
All together forming an integrated energy dissipation zone with the ability of natural
resilience, all on a sustainable basis.
Based on thorough understanding of the coastal system of interest with its
challenges and the Resilient by Nature building blocks with proven and predictable
behaviour and resilience characteristics. All on basis of empirical relationships and
parameters, expert judgment and experience.
Cumulating in a balanced array of impacts, active coastal features, anticipated
responses, adequate safety levels and resilience options. Delivering a coherent,
consistent and sustainable solution to the problem.
Development Options
There’s a potential for spin off related products in the wake of the Resilient by Nature
holistic and experience based approach. Some of which may exist, other may need
some form of upgrading or operationalization or appear to be new and to be
developed all together.
A few examples of such Resilient by Nature related spin off development options are:
Computational models
The application of computational models can be a useful instrument for reason of
back up on the holistic and empirical approach or to provide more detailed
information about the spatial distribution of certain parameters over the area. For
instance when planning for additional functionalities such as ecosystem
development.
Which set of models needs to be able to deal with the combined effect of the various
types of physical parameters and ambient conditions, such as currents in
combination with short waves and various types of long waves, related to cohesive
and non-cohesive sediment transport capacities and gradients.
Including full morphodynamics, drying and flooding, average and extreme conditions,
covering mentioned area between say the landward 4 or 5 meter depth contour and
the most seaward 15 to 20 meter depth contour, covering all features in between.
An inventory of what’s available is part of the ongoing Resilient by Nature roll-out.
Survey Equipment
In similarity with the computational modeling potential, adequate survey equipment
needs to be available and operational to measure and record for instance the long
wave phenomena, which are becoming more and more important and dominant in
some areas. Of which the output in itself feeds back into both the expert-systems and
knowledge-bases. All together providing better coverage over an area and access to
more accurate data for related matters, such as constructability analyses and other
operations bound conditions.

4. ©
Marco
Pluijm,
26/02/2017
An inventory of suitable survey equipment, existing and under development, is part of
the ongoing Resilient by Nature roll-out.
Innovative Marine Structures
Both productlines mentioned, provide the opportunity for design of for instance
adequate breakwater solutions and operational port conditions in (bound) long wave
and swell dominated areas. For instance by means of broad crested weir type nature
shaped breakwaters in sequential or single mode.
Conversations with owners are ongoing as part of the Resilient by Nature roll-out.
Markets
Obvious markets are the US and Asia, with development potential in Europe.
Of particular interest are the Small Island Developing States (SIDS’s) because of
their urgent needs, the scale of the challenges to meet and equal narrow bandwidth
in terms of feasible and sustainable solutions with regard to flood impact protection,
safety, socio-economy and resilience. With focus on optimal use of natural systems,
including hybrid solutions such as polders, sustainable dikes and levees. While ruling
out elements such as shoreline rehabilitation by means of periodic nourishment,
simply due to lack of suitable equipment and means on site. The Resilient by Nature
approach and toolbox are optimal geared up to provide such solutions.
An inventory of appropriate opportunities is part of the Resilient by Nature roll-out
and ongoing.
Ecosystem development
The spread and dissipation of the incoming energy over a wider zone, thus creating
calmer water, provides substantial benefits for the development of a much more
diverse aquatic ecosystem.
An inventory of suitable cases of this kind of added value is part of the ongoing
Resilient by Nature roll-out.
Path forward
As concluded earlier, the Resilient by Nature approach is considered to be a solid,
robust and suitable approach with regard to adequate extreme weather impact
protection, safety and resilience in a sustainable manner..
The roll-out as described is well underway, on track and open for initiatives too.
As part of this ongoing process, business and development opportunities have been
identified. Mainly in a support role, with none of them on the critical path to further
implementation of the Resilient by Nature approach.
Parties which are interested to participate in one or more of these activities are
invited to come forward and respond via pluijm64@gmail.com