STORM_SAFE: Strengthening the digital resilience of the North Sea Region
How and why?
Software is the invisible backbone of our society and it is essential in many processes of our daily lives. For critical water infrastructure, it is vital that control software should be reliable. In this way, we can prevent disasters which could harm our society and economy. With ageing infrastructure and the ongoing development of new technologies, STORM_SAFE faces three challenges:
- Software longevity: software ages and must be updated regularly in order to remain effective
- Innovation: the transition to cutting-edge applications requires the development of new techniques
- Maintenance: continuous maintenance is necessary in order to keep software operational
Project objective
STORM_SAFE aims to improve the performance reliability of critical water infrastructure, such as storm surge barriers and locks. By reducing the risk of disruption, the project aims to reduce the severe impacts of disasters while protecting lives and socioeconomic stability.
What does the VMM do?
The Flanders Environment Agency (VMM) is launching a pilot with partners for testing the software reliability of the water management infrastructure. The intention is to establish a transnational implementation plan and learning programme and contribute to climate adaptation initiatives.
Project partners
- Ministry of Infrastructure and the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management
- Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
- University of Twente
- The municipality of Gothenburg
- Voies navigables de France
- Fjordgruppen
- The Danish Coastal Authority
- The Lower Saxony state agency for water resources management, coastal protection and nature conservation
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Lund University
- Saarland University
- Aalborg University
Together, these organisations are committed to a safer and more resilient future for the North Sea Region.
The project is being implemented within the Interregional North Sea programme and will run from 2024 to 2027.
