Royal Haskoning pleased with standard of entries
Royal Haskoning’s first Delta Competition in 2006 made a splash. The worldwide competition challenges students to come up with innovative solutions for delta areas that are vulnerable to climate change. Chairman of the Board Jan Bout says that the entries for the 2008 Delta Competition are again refreshing and inspiring.
The consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels and increased water flows in rivers, will hit heavily populated delta areas hard. Jan Bout says, ‘You can talk about the unknown and the unprecedented because solutions are urgently needed and the full magnitude of the problem is still not calculable. The aim of the Delta Competition is to coax out fresh ideas from young people in the last stage of their studies. Their thinking is not stuck in rigid patterns and they often have the right combination of creativity, technical knowledge and theoretical background.’
New combinations
If we take a clever and timely approach, climate change need not be solely a threat. It can also be an opportunity for great improvements in the environment, quality of life, energy and mobility. Royal Haskoning is creating a profile for itself with new combinations of existing knowledge and innovative solutions. ‘In the Netherlands we are already working on the “Room for the River“ programme,’ continues Jan Bout. ‘The proposal for the expansion of the Dutch coast and an airport in the North Sea was inspired by our collaboration with Van Oord on the construction of the new islands off the coast of Dubai. And at the invitation of the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, as part of the Natuurlijk Afsluitdijk consortium, we have developed an integrated area vision for the Afsluitdijk combining a number of functions. We are now taking this forward.’
Determination
The Netherlands has an international reputation as a centre of excellence when it comes to water. There is a healthy interaction between public bodies, research institutes and consultancy firms. If we are determined, we can make the most of opportunities all over the world with the existing knowledge infrastructure. But drive is crucial.’ says Jan Bout. ‘The Delta Competition is our way of setting our sights on the future. Royal Haskoning is well positioned for an active role in finding solutions to delta problems. Our expanding role in New Orleans underlines this once again. The impact of climate change differs immensely from country to country, but practical solutions are usable everywhere. We must move quickly and proactively to get developments going. With Royal Haskoning’s international orientation and reputation and our worldwide network we can make many connections and foster the sharing of knowledge. Workable plans demand more than technical solutions; they also need financial feasibility, social acceptance and governance.’
Stimulating innovation
The Delta Competition extends beyond Royal Haskoning and encourages young talent all over the world to come up with bold strategies. The winning idea in 2006, the Floating City, came from a team from Delft University of Technology and meant a breakthrough in thinking about living in deltas. ‘The world needs new, innovative ideas,’ concludes Jan Bout. ‘We want to encourage students to think outside the traditional boundaries and, where necessary, challenge the established order. The Delta Competition promotes inspiration and discussion. We are delighted with the standard of the entries, which are being assessed for originality and scientific basis by an international panel of expert judges. There is a great variety and I’ve seen some interesting ideas that combine safety and sustainability in new ways. And that’s what it’s all about.’
