©  Marco  Pluijm,  05/02/2017    

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Resilient  by  Nature  as  Benchmark  for  Quality  and  Innovation    Marco Pluijm Senior Expert Ports and Coasts Apart from using the Resilient by Nature approach and toolbox for the planning and design of climate change impact safe and resilient coastlines, the same method can also be used for project appraisal and evaluation by for instance Authorities, NGO’s and others who are involved. In order to be able to benchmark, weigh and judge the overall quality of what is being proposed and to stimulate the industry to provide more effective, commercially attractive and innovative solutions. In terms of traditional coastline management, the measures which usually are being proposed, are meant to last for the duration of the project as planned, within the scope as defined. Which scope is usually fairly traditional and defined by few affected. Using traditional risk assessment techniques for the assessment of variations in relevant parameters, as input for the overall life cycle expectation. The design data for this kind of plan and design procedures are usually based on hind-cast analyses, scenarios projections and related forecasts. But when the climate is changing faster than originally anticipated for, as is happening today in many places around the world, an additional challenge in this respect is to forecast the actual input and consequences of such unpredictable nature.

©  Marco  Pluijm,  05/02/2017    

Which for instance can be seen at Mantoloking (NJ), where soon after the initial coastline stability improvement works, the beach had to be re-nourished again. Which is not the result of a minimal design, but the net result of what this and similar coastlines are facing as increase in extreme weather conditions on one side, and on the other side can facilitate as adequate impact solutions, in terms available space, volumes and coastline dynamics. In which case we can say that the natural resilience is very limited. More about this case and how the resiliency factor can be improved, can be found on http://www.slideshare.net/MarcoPluijm/hurricane-impacts-as-resiliency-master-class-11112016 A similar analysis can be made of for instance the so-called Sand Engine. A 20 million m3 artificial sand nourishment project along a coastal stretch in the Netherlands. Meant to feed the adjacent coastal stretches for a period of up to twenty years. Because of its purpose as nourishment feed, the sand mass is meant to move on over time. Which doesn’t provide for any mechanism or quality improvement of this coastal stretch in terms of post event natural resilience. In this case the resiliency factor may have been improved by incorporating and strengthening coastal features such as shore-parallel sand banks, sand waves or ridges. Coastal features which all have been analyzed as part of the Resilient by Nature approach and toolbox and about which more can be found on http://www.slideshare.net/MarcoPluijm/resilient-by-nature-update-27012017 Following this approach, the natural resilience can often be improved considerably. For instance when the impact energy is spread out over a much wider zone than the traditional breakerzone area, which is the area of the traditional sand nourishments. Or, when going back to for instance Mantoloking, to decide to rearrange the entire affected coastal stretch into separate sub-sections which by themselves face less impact due to for instance storm surge and wave set up reduction measures. Thus creating a better potential for post event natural resilience. In line with this approach, Resilient by Nature can also be used the other way around, for instance for project appraisal or optimization purposes. And to stimulate innovation too. In case of project appraisal, not only evaluating projects on impact safety and environmental aspects under normal conditions, but also adding the degree of resilience as criterion. Which can be done on the basis of the type and

©  Marco  Pluijm,  05/02/2017    

number of natural features with proven resilience included and the way those contribute to the overall post event resilience. With as an example for instance mangroves. Which in itself are seen as very impact resilient, but at the same time are often equally sensitive for mass siltation after an extreme event. In which case mass siltation prevention measures improve the overall resiliency factor for that coastal area. An approach, which all together should stimulate owners and the industry to come up with more effective and innovative solutions. Not only providing much better safety and protection of a coastal systems against severe weather impacts, but also to improve the overall resiliency by enhancing or re-introducing natural coastal features. Thus improving the overall quality. Once acknowledged as acceptable and effective method for project appraisal and innovation by the responsible authorities and others, the number of criteria and effective means will expand rapidly, to the benefit of all those involved. The Resilient by Nature approach provides the framework and initial tools.