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Flood Resilience: a Co-Evolutionary Approach

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Flood Resilience: a Co-Evolutionary Approach Flood Resilience: Barbara Tempels a Co-Evolutionary Approach Flood Resilience: a Co-Evolutionary Approach Flood Resilience: a Co-Evolutionary Approach What is flood resilience? At first sight, flooding Residents, Spatial Developments and presents itself as a physical issue. This could lead one to think that solutions are to be found Flood Risk Management in the Dender Basin in the physical realm – from robust, large-scale solutions (such as dikes, weirs) to flexible, small-scale ones (such as floodgates, flood proofing, floating homes). The cover picture, however, shows that there is more to the story. While caravans could be considered physically resilient, as they can accommodate changing conditions, their efficiency depends on the social structures that support them – they simply need Barbara Tempels (1987) to be moved. Resilience is thus not merely about works as a researcher at infrastructure. It is also people, and how people the Centre for Mobility use infrastructures. Flood resilience, therefore, is and Spatial Planning not only to be sought in the technical, but also in at Ghent University. the social realm. She holds a Master’s degree in Engineering – Therefore, this dissertation has been an endeavor Architecture and defends to understand the role of different actors in her PhD in Urbanism managing flood risks. It analyzes which actors and Spatial Planning in directly and indirectly contribute to the spatial 2016. From 2010 to 2016, development of flood risks. It then looks at how she has worked for the these different actors relate to and interact Policy Research Centre with each other to produce flood resilience. As for Spatial Planning. such, it develops a framework that provides a Her research interests broad perspective on how flood risks develop include urban governance, through time and place and explores what the complexity, resilience, role of spatial planners could be in bringing these flood risk management and different parties together. environmental policy. Barbara Tempels WWW.INPLANNING.EU Veerkracht tegen overstromingen: een co-evolutionaire benadering Bewoners, ruimtelijke ontwikkelingen en overstromingsbeheer in het Denderbekken Flood Resilience: a Co-Evolutionary Approach Residents, Spatial Developments and Flood Risk Management in the Dender Basin Barbara Tempels Promotoren: prof. dr. ir. L. Boelens, prof. dr. ir.-architect K. Boussauw Proefschrift ingediend tot het behalen van de graad van Doctor in de stedenbouw en de ruimtelijke planning Vakgroep Civiele Techniek Voorzitter: prof. dr. ir. P. Troch Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen en Architectuur Academiejaar 2016 - 2017 ISBN 978-90-8578-950-5 NUR 907, 945 Wettelijk depot: D/2016/10.500/82 Flood Resilience: a Co-Evolutionary Approach Residents, Spatial Developments and Flood Risk Management in the Dender Basin Barbara Tempels ISBN 978-90-8578-950-5 NUR 907, 945 Wettelijk depot: D/2016/10.500/82 Supervisor Prof. dr. ir. Luuk Boelens, Ghent University Co-supervisor Prof. dr. ir.arch. Kobe Boussauw, Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel Examination committee Dr. Ann Crabbé, University of Antwerp Prof. dr. ir. Renaat De Sutter, Ghent University Prof. dr. Thomas Hartmann, Utrecht University Prof. dr. Veerle Van Eetvelde, Ghent University Prof. dr. ir. Luc Taerwe, Ghent University (chairman) The research reported in this dissertation was conducted at the Centre for Mobility and Spatial Planning, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Ghent University and funded by the Policy Centre for Spatial Planning 2012-2015 of the Flemish government. 6 Acknowledgements Resilience and climate change. That was the topic of my research project for the Policy Centre for Spatial Planning. Needless to say that over the years things got turned around quite a bit. When the research project was presented to me by prof. Georges Allaert, about five years ago, I had just had my first taste of planning research in the context of the Policy Centre for Spatial Planning and Housing. As a recent architecture and urbanism graduate, my fellow students (or maybe just my own critical voice) didn’t fully understand why I would be interested in a field that curtails the freedom of architects and a job that would result in more paper. But I was curious, so I said goodbye to AutoCAD and delved into a whole new universe of ArcMap, Endnote, SPSS, nVivo, and alike. Markers were exchanged for recording devices, tracing paper for an endless stream of academic literature and drawings for badly layouted presentations in hideous fonts (I must admit that I have become more of an academic than I set out to, writing in equally hideous fonts and producing equally badly layouted presentations; so many thanks to InPlanning for preserving my integrity as an architect). While they were out getting things built, I tried to make sense of vague concepts in a language that I couldn’t quite grasp. This first year was a great experience and pivotal for my interest in research. Under the skillful guidance of prof. Georges Allaert I learnt that planning is so much more than making rules (in an ideal world, it might even be anything but making rules; actually, I might be indebted to prof. Luuk Boelens’ idealism for this position). Team AMRP anno 2010-2011, and in particular Ann and Thomas, thank you for introducing me to the ins and outs of spatial planning and academic research. And then the real work started: prof. Georges Allaert presented me the opportunity to do PhD research on resilience and climate change, which I accepted without hesitation. Georges, thank you for providing me with the opportunity to develop myself as a researcher. A few months into my PhD, prof. Kobe Boussauw became my co-supervisor. His enthusiasm and hands-on approach kick started my PhD project. Kobe’s straightforwardness and sincerity was very refreshing in a PhD trajectory that sometimes felt like a blind dropping in unknown territory. I am very appreciative of his determination, which ensured that things were going forward (even if I wasn’t too sure about it). While there was a clear outline for the research project, it went out the door quite quickly once prof. Luuk Boelens entered the stage as my supervisor. His critical attitude and rebellious spirit challenged what I assumed to be obvious, keeping my ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS thoughts straight (eventually) and my work on edge. I could always count on Luuk for an inspirational discussion to offer perspective. Luuk, Kobe, thank you for pushing me forwards when things were happening, and the patience when things weren’t happening. I have also had the privilege to meet and work with some extremely inspiring and talented people. Discussing ideas with fellow academics, policy-makers and inspirers of all sorts at conferences, workshops, seminars, informal meetings, etc., 7 has been a driving force. Through conversations small and big, ideas grew. I would like to thank all discussants, track chairs, reviewers and accidental conversationalists I have encountered for the time they have taken to comment on my work and exchange thoughts. I would also like to thank my examination committee for their insight and feedback. I hope our discussions further materialize in the future. A special thanks goes to the people I have co-authored with. Thomas, Hannelore and Ann, writing with you was a true pleasure. My work is also highly indebted to all the people that participated in this study: the residents of the Dender basin that have responded to my survey, the interviewees that have taken the effort to explain their position and the participants of the focus groups. It is my dearest wish that my work will in some way help you too. And then there is team AMRP (whether or not Congé). For six years, this group (in various configurations) has been my base. The people at AMRP have assisted and advised me on the most diverse and sometimes trivial of challenges. They fulfilled multiple roles, ranging from walking encyclopedia and logistic support team to self-help group and friends. Their enthusiasm and compassion provided me with an environment that enabled me to flourish. I want to thank them for the moments we shared. In particular thanks to Thomas (partner-in-crime extraordinaire), Els (partner-in-creativity), Karel (partner-in-travel) and Suzanne (partner-in-optimism) – you have gained my utmost respect as fellow academics, and even more as great individuals in general. And last but not least, I want to express my appreciation to my friends and family for all the love and support I receive on a daily basis: my mom and dad for the confidence and freedom they have given me and their assistance with everyday concerns; my sister Jorinde, my brother Sebastiaan and their families for providing me with both focus and distraction at the appropriate time; my close friends for sitting through exposés about my work over dinner or a beer; my fellow musicians at Andante Favore and the VUB Orchestra for the motivational talks; Lennart, Brecht, who never stopped supporting me; and Igor, who, while being increasingly exposed to my stress as the finalization of this book came closer, has given me nothing but understanding and acceptance – you keep me grounded. This support and guidance has enabled my evolution from an architect graduate to a spatial planning academic, for which I am sincerely grateful. However, while this book is finished, this evolution is far from over. I am looking forward to whatever the future might bring, and feel comfortable knowing that I can count
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