System integration Afsluitdijk: invisible and indispensable

With infrastructure work such as the renovation of the Afsluitdijk, we mostly see what is happening on the outside. However, just as much work is being done off-screen. On Industrial Automation & Power Supply and Transmission, for example. We speak with Peter Kortekaas, project manager System Integration and IA&E (industrial automation and electrical engineering) at Levvel.

"Systems integration is much broader than just IA&E," Kortekaas opens the conversation. "It's about the completeness of all technical aspects within this project. System integration is an overarching process that starts with understanding the intended use of the Afsluitdijk by Rijkswaterstaat as reflected in the contract. How will the Afsluitdijk system be used and maintained in the future, and how do we implement that in terms of technology? How can we demonstrate that everything functions safely as specified? We conclude the project with integration tests; all components must then work together in the required manner. The functioning (Dynamic Behavior) of the Afsluitdijk system with the usage and maintenance processes are part of that, for example, which is where the interface with industrial automation lies. We flesh out the use with the help of IA.

Operation and maintenance

Throughout the consideration of intended use, daily maintenance must also be taken into account. Kortekaas explains: "Maintenance depends, among other things, on the environment, on the seasons and must be planned in a way that the stakeholders deem appropriate. In addition, we may have to deal with a piece of unplanned maintenance, for example due to failure. The system must be partially redundant so that you don't have unwanted outages. That applies to the entire Afsluitdijk."

Kortekaas lists a number of aspects that in this project also fall under the heading of system integration: "We are talking about the control of the hydraulics at the floodgate in Den Oever, the floodgate at Kornwerderzand, the gates for the Vismigration River, the drive for raising and lowering the gates in the existing culverts in Den Oever and Kornwerderzand, and the pumping units East and West of the pumping stations in Den Oever. We have now become dependent on technology to control the water. That is why System Integration and IA&E is so incredibly important."

Cybersecurity is also a concern at the Afsluitdijk

To outline what a workday looks like, Kortekaas replied, "Currently we are working on energy issues, including connecting to Liander's distribution grid. How do we get our energy systems connected to their systems? Then there is the issue about the solar panels in Den Oever, which are being installed to compensate for the energy used by the infrastructure on the Afsluitdijk. How are we going to integrate these? The whole energy issue transcends all the subprojects, after all, without energy nothing happens. Every adjustment being made now has a direct impact on this energy issue. We are running parallel in this story with automation."

"System design is also influenced by 'CE Marking,' the related Machine Safety is of great importance. Relatively new and very relevant is 'cybersecurity.' With today's way of working, a lot of digital traffic takes place. That has to be able to take place in a secure way. So the question is: how do we make this project Cyber Secure? Total Systems Integration has thus transcended the IA&E engineering field. The Afsluitdijk must remain secure at all times, on all fronts."

The umbrella over the contractors

The central control system for the Afsluitdijk is being constructed by Croonwolter&dros. "Not all electrotechnical subsystems will be provided by them; for that, partners come into the picture. That requires from Levvel to act as an intermediary within IA&E. We form an umbrella above all contractors. System Integration may be seen as the director of the story. Levvel takes its responsibility and wants to be "in control" of the interfacing between the mutual contractors. Thus Levvel is the party that performs integration tests after commissioning of components and later the whole," Kortekaas said.