NCR Morphological Triangle

What is the morphological triangle ?

The morphological triangle is a cooperation between Dutch research institutes with a scope on river morphology. The triangle is a concrete result of the cooperation of the partners within NCR and was founded in 2001.

The focus of the research within the morphological triangle is on river morphology and in particular on expertise necessary to predict changes in the bed level of the river. Among these are rivers with tidal zones, from the river bed until the river banks including the interaction with groin fields, side channels and floodplains

Objective of the morphological triangle

The objective of the morphological triangle is to improve the cooperation between the most important research institutes in the Netherlands with a scope on river morphology by:

• developing expertise on the morphological processes in rivers due to currents and shipping and on modelling these processes. With this expertise questions related to design and management of the Dutch river system can be tackled.
• characterizing and strengthening the position of the Dutch scientific river morphological research

Within the morphological triangle two long term themes have been defined for which there is great need for knowledge in the society:

1. The morphological behaviour of river bifurcations
2. Morphology during high discharges and in particular the exchange of water and sediment between the river and the floodplain and the resulting behaviour of the river bed.

Theme 1: Bifurcations (Merwedekop) (Photo: Rijkswaterstaat)	Theme 2: Morphology during high discharges (Photo: P. Jesse)

The morphological triangle wants to achieve these goals by cooperating within projects, founding each others research questions and guarantee the quality of each others work by discussing the results. Three times a year meetings are taking place in which the different institutes participate. During these meetings progress of the project is discussed and results are presented. New ideas and suggestion are presented. In between the meetings frequent informal contacts between the institutes exist.

Partners within the morphological triangle

The morphological triangle has three different types of partners (this explains the name: morphological triangle):

• Universities. They have as a primary task to educate and perform fundamental scientifically research. They develop fundamental knowledge. Within the morphological triangle the universities of Utrecht, Delft and Twente are represented. UNESCO-IHE, the institute for water education is also represented.
• Large Technological Institutes (GTI) with as a primary task to bridge the gap between fundamental research and river management. They develop applied knowledge. WL|Delft Hydraulics and TNO-NITG are represented within the morphological triangle.
• Governmental research institutes with as a primary task to look after the scientifical foundation for river design and management problems. They are the "knowledge directors". Within the triangle RIZA represents the government.

Read the complete mission statement of the morphological triangle here (in Dutch)

For contact with the morphological triangle please send an e-mail to:
Leonie Bolwidt (Chairperson) or David Kroekenstoel (Secretary).  

The minutes of the meetings of the Morphological Triangle (all in Dutch) can also be downloaded from this site (see the NCR Downloads page).

Papers and background information about projects executed by partners of the Morphological Triangle can be found at:
The Hulscher Veni projects
Kleinhans
Philosophy