Filter results

47625 results

Delft Female Impact Community

Delft Female Impact Community 30% of students at TU Delft and over 20% of Delft alumni are women. These are numbers that matter. At the same time, female engineers not infrequently face unique challenges in their education and work because of being female. A group of female Delft alumni wants to highlight and address those challenges. Female Empowerment | For and by female alumni These Delft engineers are launching the Delft Female Impact Community, with the mission to connect female Delft students and alumni of various generations. To help inspire, empower and support around leadership and entrepreneurship, so that even more impact can be made in our society. In addition, the community aims to help create awareness of (un)conscious barriers for female students and young alumni in the TU Delft ecosystem. And thus inspire key figures to take a proactive role in encouraging more diverse and more female leadership. This is what the community does: Networking, to enlarge and deepen the community, to learn from each other, especially also from the innovations of younger generations. Passing on knowledge to the next generation, inspiring as role models and using contacts from one's own network. Facilitating (and sometimes organising) master classes, workshops and mentoring for students and young alumni around leadership and entrepreneurship. Helping to actively raise awareness around the topic of challenges to female leadership and entrepreneurship (within TU Delft, among students and among alumni). Propose and encourage interventions in the TU Delft ecosystem that contribute to opening up to more diverse and more female leadership Establish and expand a dedicated fund, the Delft Female Impact Fund, to strengthen the community's mission and financially support community initiatives where necessary. Read more about the Delft Female Impact Fund here Flywheel for positive change The Delft Female Impact Community and the Delft Female Impact Fund want to set a flywheel in motion that enables lasting positive change for female students and alumni. In doing so, we help each other and make a greater social impact. “We willen zo veel mogelijk vrouwelijke Delftse studenten en alumni met elkaar verbinden, kennis en ervaring delen tussen de verschillende generaties, elkaar inspireren om het verschil te maken in al die organisaties waar we werkzaam zijn, en zo de impact vergroten voor een betere maatschappij!” Join the community This community is for all of us, female alumni of TU Delft. Here we can network, learn from each other, inspire, help each other and work together. During our events, we also meet current female students of TU Delft. How can you contribute? By putting time and energy into the Delft Female Impact Community by, for example: Inspiring students and young alumni, mentoring them or opening up your network to them Giving lectures or master classes in your field as a guest lecturer Using your expertise to develop leadership or entrepreneurship Coach female founders as an entrepreneur Donate money to the Delft Female Impact Fund Contribute ideas on how to stimulate players in the TU Delft ecosystem to develop more diverse and more female leadership and entrepreneurship. Registration for the Delft Female Impact Community is done via TUDelftforLife.nl . Do you have a TU Delft for Life account? Then you can join the group directly. Do not have an account yet? Register at TUDelftforLife.nl, find the Delft Female Impact Community group and become a member! Click here to go to TU Delft For Life Didi te Gussinklo Ohmann Initiator Delft Female Impact Community, TU Delft alumn and Board member University fund Delft “We want to connect as many female Delft students and alumni as possible with each other. This way we can share knowledge and experience between generations, inspire each other to make a difference in all the organizations where we work, and thus increase our impact for a better society!” Elsemiek Meijs InitiatorDelft Female Impact Fund and TU Delft alumn “By listening to the experiences of Delft students and young alumnae, I have realized that too much potential is still underexposed and untapped. There are enormous opportunities to make the world in which these women study and work more inclusive; with all the positive consequences that this entails. I am highly motivated to contribute to that, in energy, attention and as a donor.” Floor van Wingerden Initiator Delft Female Impact Fund en TU Delft alumn "Despite the rich ecosystem around TU Delft, we still see too few female students and alumnae taking the step into entrepreneurship, when there is so much talent! How can we as alumnae inspire and empower them? I would like to contribute with my time, experience and a donation.” Questions or suggestions? Very welcome! Please contact: Jan Geerts Community Manager Alumni +31 (0)6 26376978 alumnirelations@tudelft.nl alumni.tudelft.nl Lisette Forbes Wels Relationship management & Development +31 (0) 6 28914137 e.j.m.forbeswels@tudelft.nl universiteitsfonds.tudelft.nl

Alessandro Antonini

Profile Alessandro holds Msc and PhD degrees in civil engineering from the University of Bologna. After his PhD defence he worked in Bologna for three years sharing his time between research activities and marine structures consultant works, then he moved in UK to work at the University of Plymouth. He has worked on several aspects of wave-structure interaction, from the wave energy harnessing to the dynamic response of coastal and offshore structures. Research Starting from the broad fields of ocean and coastal engineering, my main research interests focus on wave-structure interaction, which in turn has been driving me to approach different aspects of the problem: from the generation and propagation of extreme waves to the caused dynamic response of offshore and coastal structures. I aspire to contribute to the deeper understanding of the waves and their effects on the structures, i.e. which are the waves physical aspects that still need to be deeper investigated and which tools should be developed for a cost-effective coastal structures design. Educational activities MSc. courses CIE5308 - Breakwaters and Closure Dams Key publications Brownjohn, J., Raby, A., Antonini, A. , Bassit, J., Hudson, E., Dobson, P, 2018. Experimental modal analysis of British rock lighthouses. Marine structures, 62, 1-22. Bressan L., Guerrero M., Antonini A. , Petruzzelli, V., Archetti, R., Lamberti, A., Tinti, S. A laboratory experiment on the incipient motion of boulders by tsunami flows. Earth Surface Processes and Landform, 43, 2935-2947. Antonini, A. , Archetti, R., Lamberti, A., 2017. Wave simulation for the design of an innovative quay wall: the case of Vlorë Harbour. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 127-142. Bozzi, S., Giassi, M., Moreno Miquel, A., Antonini, A. , Bizzozero, F., Gruosso, G., Archetti, R., Passoni, G, 2017. Wave energy farm design in real wave climates: the Italian offshore. Energy, 122, pp. 378-389. Antonini, A. , Lamberti, A., Archetti, R., Miquel, A.M., 2016. CFD investigations of OXYFLUX device, an innovative wave pump technology for artificial downwelling of surface water, Applied Ocean Research, 61, 16-31. Schweizer, J., Antonini, A. , Govoni, L., Gottardi, G., Archetti, R., Supino, E., Berretta, C., Casadei, C., Ozzi, C. Investigating the potential and feasibility of an offshore wind farm in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Applied Energy 2016, 177, 449-463. Lamberti, A., Antonini, A. , Ceccarelli, G., 2014. What could happen if the parbuckling of Costa Concordia had failed: analytical and CFD-based investigation of possible generated wave. Proc. of the 34th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, Seoul, ICCE 2014. Projects Principal investigator: ICE project - Intelligent Community Energy. INTERREG - France (Channel) England, European Commission, €8M - University of Plymouth £623’957. Co-Investigator: STORMALMP project - STructural behaviour Of Rock Mounted Lighthouses At the Mercy of imPulsive waves. UK-EPSRC funded project, £1.02M - University of Plymouth £453’077. Principal investigator: PORTOS project - Port Toward Energy Self-Sufficiency. INTERREG - Atlantic Area, European Commission, €3.5M - University of Plymouth €290’000. Alessandro Antonini Assistant Professor of Coastal Engineering + 31 15 27 8 5263 a.antonini@tudelft.nl Room number: HG 3.88 Faculty of CEG Building 23 Stevinweg 1 2628 CN Delft PO box 5048 2600 GA Delft Presence: Mon - Fri Secretary Inge van Rooij Links LinkedIn ResearchGate Google Scholar Open menu Staff

Half Height Horizontal

NWO grants funding for innovative research on physical experimental environments

How to move from experiment to mainstream? A consortium led by professor Tamara Metze, has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). In search for pathways toward more sustainable futures, Metze and her team will explore how various innovations in field labs such as The Green Village, in urban living labs such as Engy Lab South-East in Amsterdam, and in all sorts of citizens’ initiatives, can be mainstreamed and make more impact on sustainability transitions. Pilot paradox The project ‘From EXperiment to sustainable change: TRAnsformative methodologies for Innovation and learning’ (EXTRA) seeks to overcome a persistent “pilot paradox”. In this paradox, much experimentation takes place but long-term systemic impact remains difficult. Researchers together with all sorts of change makers will synthesise existing knowledge on how to mainstream, upscale, spread, broaden and deepen developed innovations. Tamara Metze: ‘I am excited to unravel what are effective ways of cocreation that lead to mainstreaming the positive changes made in experimental environments. We will figure out how learning and innovation can lead to lasting changes in regulations, policies, and financial systems and the biophysical environment.’ Tamara Metze Read the NWO press release Actionable tools The project is crucial for accelerating sustainability transitions. By refining methodologies for mission-driven experimentation and develop hands on tools for all sorts of change-makers, it will be easier to mainstream the sustainable lessons and innovations. ‘These tools will not only aid grassroots innovators but also influence institutional and organisational structures, ensuring that lessons learned from experiments are better anchored in policies, regulations, and organisations’, explains Metze. The project will employ a transdisciplinary action research approach, bringing together knowledge from various disciplines and policy domains. By co-creating solutions with public and private partners, the research will have an immediate impact. In the long term, the project aims to build a more efficient innovation ecosystem, contributing to more impactful and sustainable outcomes for both society and the environment. Projectpartners TU Delft, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam, The Green Village, AMS Institute; PBL Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, WoonFriesland, Dijkstra Draisma, Provincie Noord-Holland, Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken, PRICE / Almere, BouwLab, Alliantie Samen Nieuw-West, Innovation Quarter.

Unusual waves grow way beyond known limits

Waves that come from multiple directions are extremer than extreme. These remarkable deep-sea waves can be four times steeper than what was previously imagined, as is shown in research by TU Delft and other universities that was published in Nature today. A long time ago, stories were told of mysterious rogue waves that materialised out of nowhere and could topple even the largest ships. These waves lost their mythical character when the first rogue wave was recorded at the Draupner platform in the North Sea. In 2018, Ton van den Bremer and his colleagues at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford managed to recreate the Draupner wave in the lab for the first time ever, and this opportunity to study freak waves closely produced unexpected insights. Multiple waves push up water New research by the research consortium now shows that these remarkable waves do not break when traditional theories hold they should, the secret behind which lies in how they arise. Ton van den Bremer, expert on fluid mechanics at TU Delft and led the study, explains: “When most people think of waves, they think of the rolling waves you’d find on a beach. The type of wave we studied occurs in open water and arises when waves coming from multiple directions come together. When these waves with a high directional spread converge, the water is pushed upwards, forming a partially standing wave. An example of this is known as a crossing wave. How crossing waves arise Under certain conditions at sea, waves from multiple directions occur. This can happen in a place where two seas meet, or where winds suddenly change direction, as in a hurricane. When waves from two directions meet, a cross wave occurs, provided their directions are far enough apart. The study also shows that the further apart the directions are, the higher the resulting cross-wave. Travelling waves break when they reach a certain limit, this is when they reach their maximum steepness. The study shows that waves with a multidirectional spreading can get as much as 80% steeper than this limit before they start breaking, which means they can get almost twice as high as ‘normal waves’ before they start to break. Travelling wave (l) and a wave with high directional spreading (r) Breaking waves that grow Next, the researchers found another highly unusual phenomenon that defies existing theories, a phenomenon that is unprecedented according to Van den Bremer: “Once a conventional wave breaks, it forms a white cap, and there is no way back. But when a wave with a high directional spreading breaks, it can keep growing.” The study shows that these enormous waves can grow to twice their original steepness while breaking, which is already twice bigger than the conventional limit. Together, the waves can grow four times steeper than previously thought possible. Damage to offshore structures The knowledge that multidirectional waves can become as much as four times larger than was deemed possible can help design safer marine structures. "The three-dimensionality of waves is often overlooked in the design of offshore wind turbines and other structures in general; our findings suggest this leads to designs that are less reliable", says Mark McAllister of the University of Oxford, who led the experiments and is now a senior scientist at Wood Thilsted. Innovative vertical sensors made it possible to take accurate 3D measurements of waves. Innovative 3D measurement method A 3D measurement method developed in the FloWave lab paved the way for these new insights. “Conventional 2D wave measurement methods weren’t up to the task”, Van den Bremer explains, which is why the research group designed a new way to create 3D wave measurements. Ross Calvert of the University of Edinburgh: “This is the first time we've been able to measure wave heights at such high spatial resolution over such a big area, giving us a much more detailed understanding of complex wave breaking behaviour." FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility in Edinburgh. The circular basin has a diameter of 25 metres and can be used to generate waves from multiple directions. Header image by: Fabien Duboc

Ensuring safe and quick food bike-delivery services in cities

Cyclists rushing to deliver food on time to hungry customers is an increasing problem in cities with the growing demand for fast home delivery services. This surge has resulted in more traffic in bike lanes, contributing to accidents and raising concerns about rider safety. In the framework of SINERGI project researchers like Yousef Maknoon are looking into solutions that will help boost logistic operations that are both efficient and safe. ‘Bike delivery services are a great way to transport goods from A to B in a green manner, replacing delivery cars or vans. These micro-delivery systems can really help make city logistics more sustainable,’ says logistics and modelling expert Yousef Maknoon, who is involved in developing real-time decision models for the SINERGI project. Besides looking into sustainability, the project aims to empower delivery providers to offer cost-efficient services, while prioritising the well-being of riders. ‘We want to help bring down the number of accidents,’ stresses Maknoon. Private and public stakeholders have joined to conduct pilot initiatives in the cities of Amsterdam, Shanghai, Singapore and Copenhagen. Yousef Maknoon Safe routing ‘To improve rider safety, the app automatically provides recommended routes when food delivery riders receive their task, helping them avoid dangerous intersections and busy streets. In Amsterdam, the goal is to develop a map that will show the safety of cycling infrastructure. The map is planned to be enriched with real-time information such weather conditions, busy days, and times of the week to not only improve delivery time prediction but also assess route safety in real time,’ explains Maknoon. ‘But everything depends on the cyclist's willingness to take the safer route. When a rider is paid per delivery, they might not be willing to take a longer route. Especially when they know the area well, it can be tempting to take a shorter route that may not always be the safest option.’ A survey held amongst 300 delivery riders found that they can be nudged to follow the recommended routes when they are compensated financially. Profit versus safety Maknoon: ‘What we also found is that paying an hourly fee, instead of paying per on-time delivery, promotes safer riding behaviour, like Just Eat Take​away does in the pilot in Amsterdam. However, other issues arise because riders might not be so motivated to deliver on time. Then you need other incentives to motivate efficiency among riders. Otherwise, customers might switch to other service providers. This puts the business model which is based on hourly payment and prioritize safety, under pressure.’ It seems now that delivery services need to make a trade-off between profit and safety. ‘With the SINERGI project we want to empower delivery providers to offer cost-efficient services while prioritising the well-being of riders.’ Government regulation Public authorities can, for example, improve road safety by enhancing infrastructure, such as building separate bicycle lanes.’ Delivery providers can introduce incentives for riders that compensate the extra time a longer, but safer, route might take. But this puts pressure on profitability and could cause micro-delivery logistics platforms to struggle or even go out of business. It is likely that government regulation will need to play a role in profit-driven societies, as safety risks being overshadowed. Fair delivery system This is also the case for ensuring a fair delivery system where all customers are serviced, whether they live in the busy city centre or the less densely populated countryside. Otherwise, customers who live farther away may not be serviced, as longer cycling times mean less money for riders when they are paid by commission. Riders can simply reject these orders and choose to deliver only to places where they think they can earn more. Human factor In this digitally connected world, we need to consider the human factor in real-time decision-making. The wellbeing of riders, their working conditions, and their quality of life are also important when we talk about making operational decisions. It is interesting to compare the four cities and how they manage the tension between cost-efficiency and safety, and to see what they can learn from each other. About SINERGI SINERGI is a three-year project that runs from 2023 to 2026. It involves thirteen research institutions, governmental authorities, and companies collaborating on a comprehensive framework to improve sustainable city logistics. The project aims to enable real-time management and strategic planning of efficient, safe and user-friendly delivery services. Besides Yousef Maknoon other researchers from TU-Delft involved are: Shadi Sharif Azadeh (project leader), Gonçalo Correia, Kuldeep Kavta and Dongyang Xia. Read more about the SINERGI project.