Research Funding: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO; NWO Dutch: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek)

Faculty Researcher: Prof Dr M. Shah Alam Khan, Prof Dr Mohammad Asad Hussain, Dr Sara Nowreen

Collaboration: Lead: Utrecht University; Affiliates: Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), BUET; Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, TNO Geological Survey, Netherlands

Duration: July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2021

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Managed deltas are social-ecological systems that provide flood- and food security. However, land subsidence and sea level rise render deltas vulnerable to flooding, the impact of which is exacerbated by population growth and urbanization. These stresses affect institutional requirements for delta systems. Polders can mitigate these threats by offering flood protection and increased food production. The full potential of Tidal River Management, based on Building with Nature principles, has not yet been reached due to fundamental knowledge gaps regarding physical and institutional boundary conditions. This project offers comprehension of integrated, co-evolving physical and institutional processes across delta- and polder scales. Subsequently, it provides pathways to optimization through a Decision Support System for dynamic polder management and associated business cases. Several Dutch and Bangladeshi institutions and businesses are partners in this project funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).