Abstract
Recent studies showed that one third of the Belgian coastline is not sufficiently protected against severe storm events. Therefore coastal protection plans are set up to assure a minimum safety standard for the entire coastline. Flood risk calculations constitute the main input parameter for the concept and planning phases. Since 100% safety can never be guaranteed, contingency plans are constructed to reduce the remaining flood risks. Flood risk calculations are a powerful communicative and operational instrument to use between engineers and experts on the field, thus forming the link between coastal management and disaster planning.
Highlights
The Belgian coast is situated at the southern part of the North Sea between The Netherlands and France
Flood risk calculations form the basis for the follow-up of the whole chain of safety
In the social cost benefit analysis the costs are calculated as a combination of investment and operational costs
Summary
There are 4 harbours at Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge and Zeebrugge and a tidal inlet at the border with The Netherlands, called the Zwin. This small stretch of land is intensively used by different stakeholders. The low-lying polders in the hinterland form a 15 kilometer wide flood prone area in which about 400.000 people live (Fig. 1). This area is situated about 2 meters under the level of an average storm and without appropriate coastal protection it would flood every year. Since 100% safety can never be guaranteed, contingency plans are constructed to reduce the remaining flood risks
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
