New Book Looks at Netherlands Flood Protection Efforts

April 7, 2006 == MEDIA ADVISORY

A new book from a Calvin College professor of engineering was planned long
before Hurricane Katrina. But its author admits the topic became a lot more
timely after the destruction last year in New Orleans.

Robert Hoeksema's book is titled "Designed for Dry Feet: Flood Protection and
Land Reclamation in the Netherlands." It is being published by ASCE Press, the
publication arm of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and is due out in
May 2006.

Hoeksema will give a free talk open to the public on the book on April 19 at 4
pm at Calvin in Science Building 110.

He notes that few countries exist in which human activities have exerted a
greater influence in shaping the landscape than the Netherlands.

"The purpose of this book," he says, "is simply to tell a story: how this
small country in Western Europe used and developed technologies over many
centuries to create and maintain usable dry land in a very inhospitable
environment."

Hoeksema notes that the danger of living below sea level was made very real
with the recent flooding in New Orleans. In the case of the Netherlands, he
says, 65 percent of the country is situated below the level of high tide.

"A significant portion of the 16 million people who live in the Netherlands
would be potential victims from a storm surge disaster like that generated by
Hurricane Katrina," he says. "Maintaining an acceptable level of safety is a
critical, ongoing task."
 
The book tells the entire story of the history of Dutch flood protection and
land reclamation from dwelling mounds constructed as early as 500 B.C. to large
storm surge barriers completed at the end of the twentieth century, including
the social-political-economic context for these developments.

For the full story see
http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2005_06/dry_feet.htm
Contact Hoeksema at 616-526-6167

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Received on Fri Apr 7 01:15:05 2006