Making water calculations

Municipality of Almere

What happens when there is too much precipitation? What if there is too little? What is the quality of my ditch? How much water flows through the sewer system? These types of questions can all be answered by making water calculations. Within such a calculation, the algrotime determines how the water moves. Results are used to make the right choices when designing and managing outdoor space.

Last change on 4th of June 2025, at 12:08 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: Field not filled in.
• Status: In development

General information

Theme

• Living
• Nature and Environment
• Space and Infrastructure

Begin date

2025-05

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to publication website

https://www.digitaleoverheid.nl/innovatieproject/standaard-voor-transparantie-besluitvorming/

Responsible use

Goal and impact

What is hydrodynamic simulation software and why is it important?

Hydrodynamic simulation software helps us accurately understand and predict water flows - such as rivers, stormwater runoff or floods. The software does this by calculating how water behaves in a given area based on physical laws (such as the laws of fluid dynamics and gravity).

These calculations are integral: they take multiple factors into account simultaneously - such as rainfall, soil type, elevation differences, wind and even the operation of pumping stations and locks. This creates a complete picture of the water system.

The big advantage? We can explore scenarios before they occur in real life. Think of simulating a heavy storm to see where water accumulates, or how interventions in the landscape can better control the water.

The impact is huge:

Predictive capability: We can better assess flood or drought risks.

Better decisions: Governments and engineers can make informed choices about water management, infrastructure or spatial planning.

Safety and efficiency: We prevent damage and save costs by knowing in advance what works.

In short: hydrodynamic simulation software translates complex physical processes into clear insights that allow us to better plan, protect and build a water-safe future.

Considerations

This approach is based on physics and mathematics, not artificial intelligence. This means that creating a simulation sometimes takes more work than with a trained AI model. The big advantage is that you don't need large amounts of data to still arrive at an accurate result. Moreover, the results are easier to understand and control. This algorithm is especially suitable for calculating land-based and urban water systems. For oceans, deep groundwater or drinking water pipelines, it is less applicable.

Human intervention

It is verified with people in the neighbourhood whether the predictions of the water model match reality.

Risk management

The quality of the model's prediction is highly dependent on how well physical reality is modelled as an input to the calculation.

Links to legal bases

Operations

Data

The model has two types of data as input. First, a model of the physical environment through which water flows, i.e. sewer systems but also surface elevation, e.g. the land use map, or the general elevation file. Supplemented by expert knowledge. Second, Dynamic data on water, for example precipitation data from KNMI or water levels of rivers and or seas from RWS.

Links to data sources

• KNMI neerslag gegevens: https://dataplatform.knmi.nl/group/precipitation
• Riolerings gegevens Rioned: https://apps.gwsw.nl/
• Algemeen Hoogtebestand Nederland: https://www.pdok.nl/introductie/-/article/actueel-hoogtebestand-nederland-ahn
• Landgebruikkaart STOWA: https://stowa.lizard.net/viewer/map

External provider

Nelen & Schuurmans