Our transport, energy and water infrastructures are in continuous need of adaptation to climatic and other changes. To enhance infrastructure resilience, the Civil Engineering & Management department develops and examines a wide range of strategies and technologies. Recognising the urgent need for increasing resilience and climate adaptation, this theme has become an integral part of our educational programmes.
Research
Civil Engineering & Management adopts a multidisciplinary approach to prepare our transport, energy, and water systems for the future. In research projects such as Living Dikes or Poseidon, we examine innovative solutions to enhance the climate-resilience of river, coastal and offshore infrastructure. We also develop and examine multi-actor strategies to support the development climate-resilient landscapes in projects like SpongeWorks and DIWA. The future of our infrastructure is also central in research that we conduct in programmes like Urbiquay and Next Generation infrastructure. By integrating community engagement and innovative design principles, this theme seeks to enhance the sustainability and adaptability of infrastructure in a comprehensive manner.
Education
Climate adaptation is well integrated into the BSc Civil Engineering, for example, in the 2nd year modules Safety & Risk in Deltas and Area Development and minor modules like Multifunctional Design of Nature-based Coastal Flood Protection. In our MSc Civil Engineering & Management, climate change, infrastructure and resilience are central in courses such as Urban Resilience in a Changing Climate, Infrastructure Asset Management and Water & Climate.
Collaboration
To find transdisciplinary solutions to climate change, we collaborate with other Faculties in the University of Twente’s Climate Centre. Some of these solutions will soon be showcased at our Living Lab on campus. We maintain close relations with infrastructure owners and managers in the region and beyond. We deliver challenge-based education with the municipalities of Enschede and Zwolle. For the development of knowledge and human capital, we joined forces with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management and its executive agency (Rijkswaterstaat) as well as the regional water authority in Zwolle (WDODelta). We collaborate with a wide range of European partners in projects and training networks.
Impact
As we work on resilient solutions, we contribute to United Nation’s 9th and 11th Sustainable Development Goals ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation’ and ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’.