As part of the Interreg North Sea STORM SAFE project, Rijkswaterstaat and the UK’s Environment Agency (responsible for the Thames Barrier) joined forces for a two-day knowledge exchange in April 2025. The event focused on enhancing critical water infrastructure, with particular attention to innovative methods such as digital twins and formal verification techniques.
Participants explored how these technologies can contribute to more reliable and sustainable designs for storm surge barriers, such as the Oosterschelde barrier and the Thames Barrier. A case study demonstrated how new validation strategies can address technical challenges and help make existing systems more future proof. The event marked an important step in international cooperation on water safety, at a time when ageing infrastructure and climate change are posing increasing risks.