Delft University of Technology starts free online course on Building with Nature
In February 2016 the Delft University of Technology will start a new open source internet course on Building with nature.
Building with Nature is a new design concept in hydraulic engineering that incorporates natural elements in its design, such as wind, currents, flora and fauna.
The massive open online course (MOOC) on Building with Nature lasts 5 weeks. The course can be followed free of charge via internet .
Ideal solution for climate adaptation
The Dutch water authorities are very keen on the Building with Nature concept and use it where ever possible as it is an ideal solution for climate adaptation.
A nature-based flood defence structure is very flexible and will adapt to the changing hydraulic circumstances automatically, which is not the case for a hard construction.
The Sand Engine uses tide, currents, waves and winds to redistribute the sand from the artificial island along the Dutch coast.
Sand engine
One of the best examples of the concept is the Sand Engine that introduced a new type of beach nourishment to counter erosion. Instead of enforcing the beach section by section, an artificial peninsula was created off the Dutch coast in 2011 with 21,5 million kubic meters.
The sand is now gradually redistributed by natural processes, such as tide, currents, waves and winds, over the shoreface, beach and dunes.
By making use of natural processes to redistribute the sand, the Sand Engine limits the disturbance of local ecosystems, while also providing new areas for nature and more types of recreation.
Effective and sustainable designs
The MOOC course explores the use of natural materials and ecological processes in achieving effective and sustainable hydraulic infrastructural designs.
It will learn the Building with Nature ecosystem-based design concept and its applications in water and coastal systems.
New generation of engineers and ecologists
During the course, a range of case studies will be presented to deepen the knowledge of ecological and engineering principles.
Leading Dutch engineers and environmental scientists will show how the Building with Nature integrated design approach is fundamental to a new generation of engineers and ecologists.
Instructors are Marcel Stive, chair of Coastal Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, and Jill Slinger, associate professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
Three water-related MOOC courses
The new course complements two other water-related courses by Delft University of Technology:
● Introduction to drinking water treatment
Starts on 12 January 2016 (for 7 weeks , free of charge)
● Wastewater treatment
Started on 2 November 2015 (for 13 weeks, costs 800 euro)
To information on source: MOOC Building with nature
Read also on this website
● Open online course TU Delft on water treatment starts with 21,000 participants, 13 September 2013
Watch the introduction video with instructor Jill Slinger explaining how the concept Building with Nature combines hydraulic engineering with ecology.