Research management
Hydraulic research in the Netherlands has
Deen approached scientifically since designing
he Afsluitdijk in the twenties. This scientific
approach has been of particular importance
aoth in the preparation and the execution of
he Oosterschelde works. A separate project
aody, named 'Soocoo', assessed and coordi-
ïated the research proposals. It was entitled
o approve proposals costing up to 200000
juilders. The whole procedure of submitting
esearch proposals is described in this article.
5esign and execution
Use has been made of a probabilistic design
method and of risk analyses in order to
establish the definitive design for the Ooster
schelde barrier. Acceptable average risks and
tatistically determined strengths of materials
led to a saving of 40% in comparison to a
design which enumerates all maximum loads
end safety factors.
To a much lesser extent risk analyses were put
o use in various building stages of the works.
Execution also had to be analysed in depth
beforehand. Besides all this a scenario of all
;onceivable setbacks and the measures to
Dvercome them was laid down.
Assignment to the manager
Formally, assignment of the storm surge
barrier to the manager, Directie Zeeland, all
took place on January 1 st 1987. In fact this
turned out to be a lengthy process. The
manager was involved from the beginning in
the building of the barrier, and in particular
was charged with coordination of studies
which had a bearing on management and
usage.
A new service body was set up, and specialised
personnel was adopted from the building
teams where possible.
The manager was also provided with a
complete set of building designs of the barrier
and a scenario for maintenance.
Media information
The Oosterschelde works have always
attracted much attention from technologists
and managers,but also from the general
public and the media. Insights have been
growing gradually at the Rijkswaterstaat into
the important instructive elements to be
gained from the media information in making
the whole operation acceptable to public
opinion.
Examples show that timely and frank informa
tion is important for the progress of the
operation, especially during difficult phases.
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