A study started in 2014 to collapse a dike/levee along a waterway in the Netherlands allowing evaluation of failure behaviour, soil strength and the dike stability and failure modelling predictions. The Leendert de Boerspolder was a small island near Leiden City, which allowed to be inundated to compensate surface water losses, improve general water quantity and add ecological and recreational value. This was done by artificially stressing the dike over a short length until its failure. This occurred at the end of 2015. NECTÆRRA acted as technical manager of the project for the water board. The field data is currently being used for extensive additional research by the Technical University Delft and several PhDs. students. The goals are to test the quality of failure prediction models and the dike strength and behaviour as it collapses. Also, the study has provided new insights into monitoring techniques and the process of inundation. Data was fed real-time into the Dike Data Service Center (DDSC). The pilot was conducted in a broad collaboration between water boards, knowledge centres and private companies.
