RRR

Due to climate change, we face more frequent exceptional situations, both in terms of drought and flooding. Roads washed away after heavy rainfall, but also damage caused by drought underline the importance of making our road infrastructure climate proof. The European Interreg North-West Europe project RuralRoadwaterRescue (RRR) aims to provide a solution to this. This research will run from early 2024 to early July 2025.

Pilot

Highways and roads are mostly designed to quickly divert rainwater into canals and streams/rivers. However, that water is locally very much needed in drier periods. Rural Roadwater Rescue investigates how we can transform roads and highways from mono to multifunctional. Think, for example, of possibilities to collect, clean and store excess water from local roads and make it available for (re)use.

All knowledge related to the collection of water, its conduction, purification, storage and local distribution will be brought together as a foundation for the next step: the design and creation of so-called 'Climate Adaptive Waterhubs'.

Climate adaptive water hubs are places where water problems resulting from climate change are jointly addressed. To this end, infrastructural, landscaping and social measures are taken in conjunction with, for and by the local community.

For this purpose, use cases are being set up, including one in Heverlee, Belgium.

Based on the Rural Roadwater Rescue research, guidelines are being developed for regulatory frameworks, feasible solutions and an action plan for implementation.

Participating countries, cities and/or regions

Within the RuralRoadwaterRescue project, road and water authorities, knowledge institutions, environmental organizations and residents’ associations from Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands work together to share knowledge and experience on dealing with excess water on roads.

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management - Rijkswaterstaat is leading the research project.

The role of imec in this project

Imec focuses on the digital aspects within RuralRoadwaterRescue, especially in function of balancing the supply and demand. What digital strategies exist already, what role can data spaces play, in what way do buyers and producers already use digital tools for water distribution? Imec also provides a methodological approach (Innovatrix) to identify user profiles and needs.

Project partners

This project is supported by Interreg North-West Europe. This European grant scheme aims at a green, smart and equitable transition with the goal of a balanced development and resilient regions.

A total of 6 project partners from 4 different countries are working on Rural Roadwater Rescue. RRR (Rural Roadwater Rescue) is a collaboration between

• Belgium: imec, Flanders Environment Agency (VMM)
• The Netherlands: Rijkswaterstaat, Corporatie Kloostersland
• France: Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning (CEREMA)
• Germany: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (TZW, German Water Centre)

Want to know more?

Read more about data spaces in our dossier (Dutch only)

Visit the project website for more information on the entire project.