Hoogheemraadschap van Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard

The Schieland and Krimpenerwaard polder-board (HHSK) takes care of the quality of the surface water, the water level and the floodgates between Rotterdam, Schoonhoven and Zoetermeer.

In addition, HHSK controls a number of roads in the Krimpenerwaard. HHSK originated after a merger between the Schieland polder-board and the Krimpenerwaard polder-board. “After the merger in 2005 the Water systems department has to deal with several control systems for the objects”, says Johan van Rijswijk, specialist in process automation of the water systems department at the polder-board. “One of the objectives of HHSK is that all systems be standardised in the future, with a large number of projects resulting from this. Realising a water quantity-monitoring network was a project as well. This is a system that monitors and registers water levels in the HHSK control area.” The ‘Monitoring network’ project started in 2009, aiming for completion in 2011.

The project primarily consisted of two parts:

• Replacing existing central control systems of the polder-board’s engineering structures (68 objects)
• Setting up a digital monitoring network (108 measuring points) that can be opened up via the same central control system.

At the time the project was contracted out to an external party, but it was not completed to the complete satisfaction of HHSK. “Unfortunately the project team had to conclude in 2012 that the quality of the work done by the then contractor did not meet the schedule of requirements”, Van Rijswijk explains.” Therefore, a restart of the project took place in the third quarter of 2013, this time from the Water Systems department itself.”

At the restart HHSK started looking for a new automation party. “By talking with contractors, Batenburg IAS from Zundert came into view”, according to Van Rijswijk. “After talks with the Batenburg IAS people it soon became clear to HHSK that they would be the right partners. The way they listened to our objectives immediately made us feel confident.  The conclusion was, and still is, that we are dealing with an experienced and professional party.”

New start
The monitoring network project eventually restarted in September 2013 under the leadership of Johan van Rijswijk and Freek de Boer of HHSK and Robert van Elst of IAS First, a pre-research was initiated. The outcome of this research brought five design choices, each with their advantages and disadvantages. “The designs were judged by us independently “, explains Van Rijswijk. “In discussing the designs, HHSK expressed a preference for the development of a module system. Every occurring function is entered in a module that can be supplied as a ‘Plug and Play’ package. On installation, the correct relations with other modules are realised. The risk in this was that the theoretical concept had not ever been developed before. That is why it was first worked out as a pilot project. ”

The concept lived up to its promise rather well and has had quite an evolution after that. The design was shaped into so-called building blocks with a fixed and a configurable part. In the end this has resulted in a widely usable pumping-station configurator, with which a polder-board object such as a pumping-station, a floodgate or a measuring point can be built and configured by own employees. “The huge advantage of this way of working is that our own technical specialists are able to build new objects from the library and all this without the intervention of external agencies”, Van Rijswijk explains. “This also means that the costs for the polder-board are reduced. In addition, this way a good standard is realised which can be well controlled.”

Van Rijswijk is very positive about the collaboration with IAS and would certainly recommend the company to others. “The collaboration with Batenburg IAS was very good. Batenburg IAS works in a structured manner, keeping the clients best interest at heart. The employees are very dedicated and pleasant to work with!”