Open AccessEconomically efficient flood protection standards for the N etherlands
Author(s) -
Kind J.M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of flood risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.049
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 1753-318X
DOI - 10.1111/jfr3.12026
Subject(s) - flood myth , context (archaeology) , dike , flood prevention , environmental science , business , environmental planning , environmental resource management , risk analysis (engineering) , geography , geology , geochemistry , archaeology
Within the context of the D utch D elta P rogramme, economically efficient flood protection standards for the entire N etherlands were calculated using a recently developed methodology for cost‐benefit analysis and up‐to‐date insights into flood risk assessment. This results in economically efficient flood protection standards for different parts of the N etherlands that significantly differ from current legal flood protection standards. The cost‐benefit analysis shows that it is economically efficient to raise protection standards especially along the rivers R hine and M euse, while for many dike ring areas in the coastal region, existing legal flood protection standards seem relatively high. An additional M onte C arlo analysis shows that in light of many uncertainties, these are also robust conclusions. The cost‐benefit analysis does not support a general increase of the legal flood protection standards for all flood‐prone areas in the N etherlands by (at least) a factor 10, as was recommended by the (second) D elta C ommittee in 2008.