Deltares is interested in Earth observation to support water management through big data analysis. Some key datasets mentioned include SRTM elevation data, soil data from ISRIC, and the Global Width Database for rivers. Challenges include bringing large amounts of data to models and translating data into useful information. Deltares research focuses on flood risk, water resources, drought early warning, coastal subsidence monitoring, and water quality/ecosystem monitoring using Earth observation data. The presentation argues that Earth observation services should focus on supporting long-term water planning and short-term forecasting/warning needs of water managers.

1. Why is Deltares interested in
Earth Observation
Jaap Kwadijk,
Director of Science Deltares
Courtesy to: Ghada, Hessel, Marjolijn H, Jaap S, Marc B, Albrecht, Bregje, Nicky, and
many many others

2. OpenStreetMap based
Monthly updated global paved
area map

3. Focal topic : Multi resolution modelling
(using big data sets )=> Global water budget and floods
Gleeson, Wada, Bierkens and van Beek, Nature, 2012.
Winsemius et al, Nature Climate Change, accepted.

4. Deltares focal topic:
BIG data in water management

5. Trends in Global Data for water
More, more and more!!!
Some 2014 water relevant
datasets
• “SRTM 30m for all!”
• ISRIC SoilGrids1km
Global soil data
• Global Width Database
• Google Earth Engine (release
of LandSat archive + analytics)
6 november 2015
Source: Yamazaki et al. 2014 - Development of the Global Width
Database for Large Rivers

6. 6 november 2015

7. Challenges
• Bring data to the model/analysis (which we do traditionally)? Or
vice versa (move to cloud/HPC)
• Translate large amounts of data into something useful
6 november 2015

8. Deltares (societal) research themes

9. Deltares Examples of Earth
Observation Portfolio
Floodrisk

10. MYWAVE│2012 - 2015
• FP 7 Project, recently completed
• Has established a foundation for a Marine Core
Service that includes ocean waves.
• From NL: Deltares, KNMI partners
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions

11. GLOSSIS│
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
Global operational storm surges
GLOSSIS is the first operational forecasting system for
storm surge prediction on a global scale, taking into
account tidal and extra-tropical storm events in real time

12. Deltares Examples of Earth
Observation Portfolio
Assessment of water resources

13. EU FP7 GLOWASIS
GLOWASIS│
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions

14. Improved Drought Early Warning and FORecasting to strengthen
preparedness and adaptation to droughts in Africa
Normal Condition
Monitoring of hydro-meteorological
variables
Implementation of drought mitigation
plan
Drought Normal Condition
Alert
Onset End
Implementation of post-drought
recovery plan
Drought Forecasting and Warning
Warning
DEWFORA │
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
A framework for the providing drought early warning and
response
• monitoring and vulnerability assessment, forecasting,
warning, response, and knowledge dissemination

15. Save Money and Reduce Time : New Zealand
SMART │2011-2017
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
The overall aim of the proposed research is to develop a suite of highly
innovative methods for characterising New Zealand’s groundwater systems.
Trans-disciplinary information needs have been determined by stakeholder
consultation and include the measurement of:
• groundwater volume and changes in it over time
• aquifer hydraulic properties
• fluxes of groundwater interchange with surface waters
• water age

16. EartH2Observe: integrate earth observations from different
missions, in-situ data, and multiple global hydrological &
landsurface models to construct a Global Water Resources
Reanalysis (WRR) dataset of at least 30 years
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
eartH2Observe │2014-2018

17. Deltares Examples of Earth
Observation Portfolio
adaptive delta planning

18. 3 February 2015
SubCoast│
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
The objective of the GMES-downstream service.
SubCoast will be to develop a service for monitoring the
extent and impact of subsidence in coastal lowlands and
demonstrate its capability in various pilots for a variety of
settings around Europe.

19. RASOR │
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
Partners
Rapid Analysis and Spatialisation Of Risk
• Multi-hazard risk analysis platform for disaster
management,
• Supports critical infrastructure monitoring &
climate change impact assessments

20. FAST│2014-2018
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
Partners │
FAST is developing down-stream services for the European Earth
Observation Programme Copernicus to support cost-effective,
nature-based shoreline protection against flooding and erosion.

21. • Evaluate ‘innovative’ platforms & sensors for RWS
(MWTL) monitoring
• Ships incl. VOS & FerryBoxes
• Combine buoys, platforms, satellite EO
• Validation, power analysis, cost-benefit
• Strategic advise on implementation
• Compliant w. MSFD & OSPAR
• Link to upcoming Copernicus data & services
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
Monitoring strategy for Rijkswaterstaat

22. Deltares Examples of Earth
Observation Portfolio
Assessment Ecosystems and
water quality

23. Cyanobacterial Monitoring Services
• Funded by the European Space Agency
• Service: combination of 1) earth observations, 2) in situ
spectral readings and 3) EWACS for early warning of HAB’s.
• 2014: pilots in Netherlands: Paterswoldsemeer (PWM) and
Rijnland lake area.
CyMonS│2014-2016
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions

24. Data Science for ecosystem services
Link existing GMES +
non-GMES WebGIS
Services
Download GMES +
non-GMES data
and provide as
WebGIS services
(local cache)
+
+
+
+
=
Dynamic multi-hazard
map
WebGIS Viewer + GUI
Python framework for
Web processing services
Multi-spatial
analysis
Web based territorial
management system
Database
• Examine feasibility & cost-
benefit of risk prevention
related to the use of
wetlands, coastal systems
and dry lands to mitigate
flood.
• Combined Sentinel data
w/ field studies and
statistics in GIS
• Thematic maps &
analyses for coastal
regions such as Wadden
Sea and Northern Adriatic
coast.
• Training to implement
algorithm for risk analysis
& “Building with Nature”
ECOSTRESS│2014-2015
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions

25. Improving future ecosystem benefits through earth
observations
ECOPOTENTIAL│2014-2018
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
The ECOPOTENTIAL project focuses its activities and pilot actions on a
targeted set of internationally recognized protected areas (PA) in
Europe, European Territories and beyond, including mountain, arid and
semi-arid, and coastal and marine ecosystems.

26. Improved monitoring and forecasting of ecology of European
INland waters by combining Future earth ObseRvation data and
Models
INFORM│2014-2018
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions
•Phytoplankton types, yellow matter, TSM & turbidity, stratification, macrophytes,
primary production, light attenuation & euphotic depth
•Deltares develops biogeochemical model to link EO data to IS data & analyse the
WQ dynamics & interactions for 2 cases:

27. Deltares Examples of Earth
Observation Portfolio
Coastal infrastructure

28. Model-Supported Monitoring of SPM
• Integration and assimilation of EO data into sediment
transport model
• Reconstruction of autonomous reference conditions for
prolonged time
• More accurate trend detection of suspended matter
(SPM)
Impact assessment of large scale land reclamation on
turbidity in coastal waters
MoS2│
Introduction Portfolio Ambitions

29. So.. we provide a lot of EO Services for
water and coastal management……
Adopted from a Deltares presentation Copernicus Climate Projections Workshop | ECMWF
Townhall, Reading April 20-21, 2015

30. We claim we do it for water / coastal managers
What do water / coastal managers do?:
Deal with too much, too little, too dirty water…..how?
• Monitor their water system’ inform people what they can expect
on all kind of water issues + warn them for floods and droughts
• Develop and maintain an infrastructure that meet all the
requirements (WFD, EU-FD, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, International
agreements, design criteria of infrastructure)
• Discuss with policymakers the (interpretation / meaning /
consequences) of changes in these requirements
• Discuss with sectors dependent on the possible options to adapt
the system (Long term)
Actually they spend (very) limited time to what we provide

31. EO services for the long term and short term
planning
• EO services for the long term planning: typically for
serving the preparation of a water/coastal management
plan for a country / water management system
(frequency 5-10 yrs (?))
• EO services for the short term: typically for serving
flood/drought/quality warning (frequency daily-weekly)
• How this planning is organized (to what extend alien
parties are involved) varies a lot over countries; coastal
management somewhat easier than inland

32. Typical questions in the water planning phase
• Are the current standards still reasonable or should they be
changed
• What adaptation strategies do help to meet the standards
• Is implementation of the strategies technically
possible/feasible?
• What are the costs and benefits of developing adaptation
strategies?
• Can the strategies be implemented in the current political and
environmental conditions?.
• What are the political consequences and institutional
requirements for implementation of the strategies?
Summarizing:
• Do measures do the job
• Is it technically possible to implement them,
• Can we pay them
It is our job to support them on this!

33. So.., in stead of looking for ecosystem,
climate, water, etc,…. services
Try to support them with decision
services