How Technology and Execution Come Together in the Arcen Dike Reinforcement Project

Working Together Toward a Common Goal

The dike reinforcement project near Arcen is anything but a standard project. Various types of flood defenses converge along the route: a green dike that blends into the landscape, a self-closing flood barrier in the historic center, and a combination of a dike, castle wall, and watermill in the southern part of the village. Behind these seemingly straightforward transitions lies a complex technical challenge. The engineering of the green flood defenses and the area surrounding the watermill was handled by the engineering and consulting firm TAUW.

“We often act as the lubricant between all parties,” says Harry Grevers, technical design manager at TAUW. “Our job is to translate the spatial design into a technically feasible plan that brings all disciplines together.” Together with his colleague Johan Labordus, he developed the final design. This involved integrating all the 3D sub-models, assessing feasibility, and adjusting the designs as needed during construction. “The beauty of a project like Arcen is that each party does what it does best. Together, you work toward a single end result.”

From Idea to Feasible Design

According to Johan, engineering begins with the very first design challenge. “You start with a bottleneck and work out various possible solutions. In doing so, you constantly weigh all the interests involved. That requires making choices all the time.” Behind the scenes, a wide range of specialists contribute to the design—from flood control, sewer systems, and paving to landscape architecture and ecology. Stakeholders such as the Limburg Water Board, the municipality of Venlo, and the Limburg Landscape Foundation also contribute their expertise and requirements.

“As design leaders, it’s our job to bring all that input together into a single integrated 3D model and ultimately develop it into drawings,” both men explain. “In addition, we’re constantly coordinating with the construction team. How are we going to build it? Which solutions are practically feasible? Through that collaboration, you make choices that actually work in the real world.”

Watermill Puzzle

The strength of this integrated approach is clearly evident at the Wijmarsche watermill and the mouth of the Lingsforterbeek. Here, flood control, cultural history, ecology, and recreation had to be brought together in a single design. A key consideration was protecting the De IJsvogel Grain Distillery. “Because the site will soon be located between the old and new flood defenses, during high water on the Meuse, water from the Lingsforterbeek will no longer be able to flow naturally into the Meuse,” Harry explains. “That’s why we opted for a new pumping station with three pumps that activate during high water.” The new fish passage also required a custom solution.” ”The watermill needs enough water to operate, while the fish passage, on the other hand, requires a minimum water depth to function properly. That calls for a careful balance.”

On the same page

Around the watermill, the pumping station, the cofferdam, the fish passage, and the landscaping of the surrounding area ultimately formed a single, integrated design. This was only achieved through intensive consultation among all parties involved, including the water board’s management and IT departments. “Getting everyone on the same page is perhaps the biggest challenge. Everyone has their own interests, but by continuing to engage in dialogue, you ultimately arrive at the best solution. In the end, you’re all working together toward the same goal: a flood defense that is safe, easy to manage, and in harmony with the surrounding environment.”