Practice-oriented research
Universities of applied sciences conduct practice-oriented research. In such studies, researchers, teachers, and private parties collaborate on practical issues. The research units offer the professional field and students opportunities for joint learning by experimentation/innovation, and by sharing and evaluating experiences gained. Several universities of applied sciences feature research units actively engaged in spatial adaptation. Students and private parties are cordially invited to explore possibilities for initiating practice-oriented research in collaboration with the research unit, or participate in ongoing studies.
Circular Economy
The Circular Economy research unit at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences focuses on issues relating to the sustainable use of the delta and the associated ecosystem services. Deltas rank among the most fertile and productive types of landscapes on Earth. One in every 15 people lives and works in a river-veined, flat area. Consequently, it is hardly surprising that such densely populated deltas feature particularly great tensions between earning money, the quality of the living environment, and ecological resilience.
If you would like to know more about the (projects of the) research unit, please contact Toine Smits via toine.smits@hvhl.nl.
Sustainable food landscapes in urban regions
The Sustainable food landscapes in urban regions research unit of Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences focuses on the development and study of new landscape architectural concepts aimed at raising the sustainability of urban environments, from the perspective of food landscapes. The food landscapes concept is taken in a broad sense here. It involves, e.g., sustainable food production in the immediate vicinity of a city; food networks for local markets, such as professional urban farmers and ecological market gardening; or local communities growing foodstuffs.
If you would like to know more about the (projects of the) research unit, please contact Noël van Dooren via noel.vandooren@hvhl.nl.
International Water Technology
The International Water Technology (IWT) research unit of Saxion University of Applied Sciences pools the expertise and experience gained in the fields of water technology (drinking water, industrial water, and waste water), delta technology (in particular, water management), and water governance. For the “City of the Future”, the entire water cycle is designed and operated in an integrated manner, in order to combine optimum water consumption with the maximum recovery of energy and nutrients, while ensuring water quality and warranting flood risk management. In the design of the water systems, challenges related to climate change must be factored in, such as more severe downpours, periods of more extreme drought, heat stress, and the like. This results in the creation of “Climate-resilient or Climate-adaptive Cities”.
If you would like to know more about the (projects of the) research unit, please contact Harry Fuselaar via h.fuselaar@saxion.nl.
Sustainable River Management
The Sustainable River Management research unit is a joint initiative launched by HAN University of Applied Sciences and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences. The research unit focuses particularly on the question of how the area around the major rivers can remain safe yet attractive for people, businesses, and nature, in both the near and distant future. Specific attention will be focused on nature-based approaches, adaptive delta management, asset management, and multi-layer flood risk management.
If you would like to know more about the (projects of the) research unit, please contact Jeroen Rijke via jeroen.rijke@hvhl.nl.