Partnership

The idea of a partnership with Waterschap Hunze en Aa's in order to look into the ability to use a number of sensors came about in 2005. IDL, NV NOM, TNO and Waterschap Hunze en Aa’s involved several parties in the project (STOWA, Deltares). From that point onwards the chemistry between the participating parties was good and the demand side in particular, represented by the water barrier managers, lent their support for this development. At this stage a lot of work was done to increase their involvement.

The IJkdijk foundation offers a development facility for market parties. Following the organisation of company days in September 2005 and January 2006, about 50 companies stated their intention to develop the IJkdijk together with the programme team and the water managers.

Once the declarations of intent had been signed, seven subgroups were formed to draw up project plans based on a number of themes. The IJkdijk was dimensioned and structured in such a way that it was possible to test various types of new sensor and communication technologies, via installation during the construction process and afterwards. It is also possible to test new levee technologies. The IJkdijk facility will be flexibly deployable and the accompanying IT infrastructure will be modular and open so that as yet unknown current technologies can be tested in the future.