Engineers to build smart dike equipped with monitors and sensors

NIEUWESCHANS – Dutch engineers will soon be testing a dike outfitted with sensors and monitors. They hope to find a way by which they can extract early warnings about weaknesses in the dikes that are part of the IJkdijk project. Researchers also plan to simulate dike breeches and will build the dikes with sand, peat and clay. The study aims to find ways for dike maintenance which are more cost effective and efficient. Various agencies are backing the project, which is part of an overall Dutch objective of creating a knowledge based economy. Once the expertise has been gained, the engineers propose to help those parts of the world that could be threatened by rising sea levels. The Bangladesh-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce already plans to introduce the IJkdijk project to the Bangladesh authorities. The U.S. also wants them to conduct similar tests.