The ultimate goal of Redesigning Deltas is to accelerate collective learning about how to design sustainable futures for urban deltas. To this end the methods of knowledge production and design, both fundamental to the necessary integration of the involved expertise, should be developed in an unconventional way. This is secured in the synthesis line through 5 activities: methodology inventory, research inventory, development of methods, theoretical consolidation of the fact-finding line and design study. For example, while the Joint Fact Finding makes an inventory of stakeholder and expert-knowledge by interviews, the Design Study uses research by design to combine engineering & spatial design knowledge from professional practice.

 

The findings from these Lines are brought to a synthesis in the RDD Synthesis Line. Its contribution is twofold:

 

 

1. To act as a flying goalkeeper for contributions of a methodological nature, that fall outside of the scope of the JFF and the Design Study. These include:
   a. Development of Casco Concept and Layers Approach 2.0 (together with H+N+S Landscape architects)
   b. Analysis of up scalability of the Multi-layer-safety approach, as operationalized at ‘De Staart’ in Dordrecht (together with West 8)
   c. Analysis of the paradigmatic change in delta management
   d. Analysis of methods of partners
   e. Analysis of aligned research projects
   All these activities will be published in essays in which the contribution of relevant methods is described and assessed, and it will deliver recommendations for their applicability for future delta management.
2. To make an epistemological assessment of all the knowledge that is created in the first year of Redesigning Deltas. The expertise gathered is different in scope, validity and rigor, but combined holds clues about what the key questions for future delta management are, considering the current state of knowledge.

 

 

The RDD Synthesis Line evolves along with the other lines in an organic way, but ‘peaks’ at the end of the first year by confronting the insights from the program’s deliverables with each other. This synthesis identifies where insights converge or diverge, where white spots are, and where future knowledge production can focus to further out collective understanding of delta management. The RDD Synthesis Line is closely affiliated with the Methodology sub-theme of the Resilient Delta Initiative, that uses methodological interventions to target the integration deficit between knowledge relevant to delta resilience.