Msc Student programs – Internships

Msc Student programs – Internships

Attention MSc students!

Are you passionate about tackling
real-world water and environment
issues with new technologies?
Join our MSc student program!
Requirements

  • Enrolled in a relevant MSc program software development, data science, earth observation, or innovative technologies for modeling or monitoring
  • To facilitate collaboration with Dutch universities for our internship program, we encourage students who are currently enrolled in a Dutch university and residing in the Netherlands to apply.

Program duration is 6 – 9 months starting September 2024
Interning with Deltares means a monthly student allowance of €550 (depending on your study points), flexible working hours, and the chance to work alongside top researchers from a Triple A institute.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to make a difference!

Afstudeeronderzoek optimalisatie energieopslagmeer Delta21 Horvat&Partners

Afstudeeronderzoek optimalisatie energieopslagmeer Delta21 Horvat&Partners

Door een toenemend aanbod van zonne- en windenergie lopen het aanbod en de vraag naar elektriciteit in de toekomst steeds verder uit elkaar. Energieopslag is één van de mogelijkheden om vraag en aanbod te balanceren. Delta21 is een initiatief dat de aanleg van een energieopslagmeer voor de Nederlandse kust voorstelt. Het energieopslagmeer kan worden leeggepompt in perioden van hoge beschikbaarheid van zonne- en windener-gie en weinig vraag naar elektriciteit. Daarnaast kan door het gebruik van turbines tege-lijkertijd het meer gevuld en energie opgewekt worden in perioden waarin weinig zonne- en wind energie beschikbaar is, of de vraag groot is. Het energieopslagmeer draagt daar-door bij aan stabilisering van het elektriciteitsnet.
Naast de opslag van energie beoogt het plan bij te dragen aan de waterveiligheid. Het meer biedt opslagmogelijkheid voor rivierwater afkomstig uit de zuidwestelijke rivier-delta. Een dergelijke opslagfunctie is vooral interessant in een situatie waarin de storm-vloedkeringen langs de kust gesloten zijn en de rivierafvoer relatief hoog is. Door de in-zet van de pompen is het bovendien mogelijk om over langere periodes water naar de Noordzee te blijven afvoeren.

Klik hier voor meer informatie

MSc-thesis Enhancing Urban Drainage Modelling through Deep-Learning Approach @ Deltares

Enhancing Urban Drainage Modelling through Deep-Learning Approach

Urban pluvial flood modelling is challenging due to the complex urban landscape and drainage
processes. Due to the quick response times of urban areas to rainfall, urban flood forecasting
requires rapid models that ideally also have some level of accuracy. This can not be achieved by our
conventional models. Therefore, the main question of this project is: How to provide timely flood
warnings in cities in response to increased flood risks due to climate change? This project will
contribute to this topic with a focus on developing high-resolution, deep learning enhanced urban
drainage models to improve flood forecasting and provide early warnings.

Click here for more information.

MSc-thesis Holland Barrier @ TUDELFT

Samen Sterk/Stronger Together aims to enhance flood protection in the Dutch lower rivers area threatened by rising sea levels. The key innovation is the addition of the Holland Barrier alongside the existing Maeslant Barrier, rather than replacing it as per current policy. This dual barrier system significantly reduces the risk of failure, lowers water levels, improves water management on the south side, and allows for continuous barrier operation during maintenance. This approach saves costs on dike improvements, maintains vital sea connections for shipping and ecology, and promotes future waterfront development, including unembanked port industry, offices, housing, and more.

Click here for more information.

MSc topic satellite for debris @ CeG

During high flows events, debris (e.g. driftwood, plastic, rubble, etc.) are likely to accumulate at riverine bridge piers. Recent research has acknowledged the negative consequences of debris accumulations at bridge piers on bridge stability, hydraulic capacity and therefore on inundation dynamics. More specifically, the accumulated debris may causes an increase of the water velocity, with consequences on hydrodynamic phenomena (e.g. scour); moreover, the clogging also causes backwater level rise, with consequences on the surroundings (e.g. embankment failures, overflow). During the 2021 floods in Belgium, Germany and Netherlands, many bridges suffered from debris accumulation. Currently, satellite imagery have been shown to capture debris accumulation (e.g. Panici et al., 2020) in given locations and for several years, but this technology has not been explored yet. 

Click here for more information

MSc topic foundation scour @Deltares

When designing hydraulic structures, foundations (or parts of) are located in open channels (like bridge piers) or in the sea (like offshore wind foundations). The structures influence the motion of the water around them, and in combination with erodible beds, the resulting sediment transport gradients could lead to local erosion (scour) around the base of the foundation. Scour can lead to structural failure and needs to be managed. Knowing the depth, extent and time development of scour holes at the base of foundations is crucial for the design of the foundation: the information can be used to determine if extending the foundation depth is a viable option, or if designing a scour protection is a more cost-efficient option. Assessing scour hole development is, in general, not a trivial task. Especially for milder conditions, where the external forcing does not often exceed the threshold of motion, we often see a huge bandwidth of possible scour depths with current approaches, likely related to uncertainty in the threshold of motion of sand, in combination with the threshold of scour development around a structure. Uncertainty related to natural variation of the alluvial bed, fluctuation in conditions and simply uncertainty in scour assessment methods further adds up to the great variation in assessing scour depths.

Click here for more information.

 

MSc topic_digital twin for catchments @ IHE

In recent years, the concept of Digital Twins has gained remarkable traction across various sectors, revolutionizing how we understand and manage natural and human (complex) systems. A Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a physical entity, with a typical “twinning” connection where real-world data inform the virtual model, and vice versa outputs from the virtual model inform decisions in the real world. One of the areas where this technology holds immense potential is Civil engineering, and in particular catchment management. By developing a Digital Twin for catchments, we can gain valuable insights into the hydrological and ecological dynamics, leading to more informed decisions and practices around flood management, water resources, water quality and beyond.

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MSc topic_bridge vibrations during floods @ RWS

The Netherlands is a front runner in the field of hydraulic engineering. The design of our dikes, locks, sluices and barriers can be considered as the most advanced worldwide. The department of Hydraulic and Ecological Engineering of Rijkswaterstaat deals with the preparation and supervision of complex infrastructural projects and programmes nationwide. Large projects such as the redevelopment of Meuse river (Maaswerken), Lock improvement program and the renovation of the Afsluitdijk are some examples.

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FLOOD RISK PROFILING OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS @ TUDELFT

In the Netherlands, historically much has been invested in flood prevention. However, there has been little focus on preparation before and during a flood. Without plans for preparedness and emergency management, floods can extensively disrupt the regular functioning of the healthcare system. The floods in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium in July 2021 revealed what the consequences could be, and that we need to better prepare healthcare facilities, even during a shortlived flood. For example, the VieCurie Medical Centre in Venlo had to evacuate more than 200 patients due to an anticipated flood threat, whereas some elderly homes were flooded and evacuation of their vulnerable patients completed although flooded. This experience indicates the potential lack of awareness and preparedness of healthcare facilities to flood risk.

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MSc thesis Hydraulic Structures @ Royal HaskoningDHV

In 2008, hurricane Ike caused 38 billion US$ worth of damages, among much of that in the greater Galveston & Houston areas in Texas, USA. The area in general is immensely vulnerable to storm surge from a hurricane, which could push a wave of water into homes on Galveston Island and up the Houston Ship Channel, dislodging chemical tanks and damaging refineries. In response to that, the US Army Corps of Engineers has begun planning for a massive 31 billion US$ coastal barrier project in Galveston Bay, formerly known as the “Ike
dike”. The project has recently been approved by US congress and is now moving forward towards engineering works quickly. Among others, the project consists of around 90 miles of coastal protection and several storm surge barriers crossing the Galveston Bay inlet, thus protecting Galveston island and the Galveston Bay from surge during hurricanes. These storm surge barriers will consist of many vertical lift gate barriers and two large navigable sector gate barriers to allow shipping to freely pass during daily circumstances. More information on the project can be found on the official website.

 

For this master thesis, we are looking for an enthusiastic student in hydraulic engineering with a specialization in hydraulic structures, who will be looking into the design of these sector gate barriers. During hurricane conditions, the water first will be pushed into bay and thus into the storm surge barrier. However, as the hurricane passes, the wind direction will change, and water will be pushed out. As it is unlikely the sector gates will open during hurricane conditions, this will generate a reverse head on the storm surge barrier and thus back pressure.
How can a sector gate barrier be designed in such a way that it can withstand these pressures? What alternative types of storm surge are possible that can withstand all loads, while still allowing navigability? How will this barrier look and fit in? These are all questions that are very open and are in need of well substantiated answers.

If you are interested in this vacancy, send an e-mail to Maarten Schoemaker (maarten.schoemaker@rhdhv.com) or Ric Huting (ric.huting@rhdhv.com).