Cases for the Singapore-Netherlands Water Challenge (2011)
Case 1. Building with Nature & Maritime Construction Projects
[case by Royal Boskalis Westminster nv]
Boskalis challenges you to look at the Building with Nature design philosophy (see sources below) as a strategy to complement / strengthen maritime construction projects such as land reclamation and maritime infrastructure such as ports and harbours, breakwaters, coastal defence systems or offshore structures.
For your proposal, take a maritime construction project in your own country / environment in mind (either a real or potential project, or a hypothetical project as a 'thought experiment'), and ask yourself the Building with Nature-type question:
“Given the fact that this project will be constructed anyway, how can we modify it in such a way that it has a benefit for ecological or recreational development, rather than to see it as something detrimental?”
Explain your idea to add such value to a project, and describe what research you would propose to elaborate this idea further.
Case 2. Building with Nature & Adaptation to Climate Change and Sea Level Rise.
[case by Deltares]
Deltares challenges you to look at the Building with Nature design philosophy (see sources below) as a strategy to adapt to climate change and sea level rise, particularly to protect coastlines from erosion. Sea level rise may cause coastal erosion affecting all inhabitants and activities in low lying deltas. Also, climate change may result in increased rain fall, run-off and river discharges with associated impacts on urban water management, storage of water and drinking water supply.
For your proposal, look at a problem associated with these issues in your own country / environment, and ask yourself the Building with Nature-type question:
“Can we find a solution for this problem in such a way that we can make a beneficial use of the forces of nature, rather than working against it?”
Explain your idea for such a solution, and describe what research you would propose to elaborate this idea further.
Case 3. Integrated Water Management in Cities and Deltas
[case by Royal Haskoning]
Royal Haskoning challenges you to look at the Integrated Water Management design philosophy as a strategy to:
1) Manage Water, Urban Drainage & Flood control, adapt to climate change and sea level rise. Urbanization, Climate change and Sea level rise may have great effect on water management affecting all inhabitants and activities in the big Asian Cities and low lying deltas. Climate change may result in increased rain fall, run-off and river discharges with associated impacts on urban water management, water quality, storage of water, and drinking water supply.
2) Manage Coastal development and Land reclamation with innovative water management solutions - Integrated Water Management.
For your proposal, look at a problem associated with these issues in your own country / environment, and ask yourself how these projects can get realised and financed: "Can we find a solution for water management in such a way that we can create a safe, clean living environment in rapidly growing delta cities? Can we increase resilience and ability to adapt to changing conditions?"
Explain your idea for such a solution, and describe what research you would propose to elaborate this idea further.
Case 4. Water-Energy-Temperature Nexus in Sustainable Cities
[case by Singapore-Delft Water Alliance and PUB]
Cities critically depend on water and energy, which are closely inter-related: we use energy for water and we use water to produce energy. For example, we use energy to heat, cool, treat and move water. Similarly, we use water for energy: we use water as a coolant in thermoelectric and nuclear plans, as a critical input for production of biofuels. Clearly, the water-energy relationship introduces vulnerabilities whereby constraint on one resource introduces construing in the other.
And temperature? Global warming - the increase of average temperature of the earth near surface - is now commonly accepted. Especially in the cities the temperature has been rising over past century. Increased density and area covered by concrete buildings and asphalt roads which absorb sun's heat, coupled with waste heat from air conditioners, cars and industry cause temperature to rise more quickly in urban centers than in the surrounding areas.
"Can we use nature-inspired principles to unlock water-energy-temperature nexus of present-day cities and make cities of the future more sustainable? What solutions would you propose to enhance urban water management and simultaneously enhance energy and temperature elements of the nexus?"
Explain your idea for such a solution, and describe what research you would propose to elaborate this idea further.
