Resilient Economies Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks 2025

CASE STUDY 3 Utilities infrastructure management under sinking conditions The gas distribution network operator Stedin in the Netherlands is addressing critical infrastructure challenges posed by land subsidence. With a network spanning 23,000km of pipelines, Stedin operates in a region where soft soils are prone to gradual sinking. While most buildings in the area have deep foundations and remain stable, the gas pipelines, embedded in the shifting ground, are susceptible to movement. This differential movement creates stress points, particularly at the connections between pipelines and buildings, increasing the risk of pipeline fractures and service disruptions. To mitigate these risks, Stedin has embedded subsidence management into its strategic planning. The company employs advanced radar-based monitoring technologies, such as InSAR, to capture high-resolution data on ground movement across its network. This enables the early identification of vulnerable pipeline segments and supports the prioritization of maintenance activities. By integrating subsidence data into asset management and maintenance planning, Stedin exemplifies a shift from reactive repairs to a proactive, risk-based approach. This enables targeted interventions before critical failures occur, thereby enhancing both safety and service reliability. A pilot project near Rotterdam demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach, resulting in a 15–20% improvement in maintenance budget efficiency. Their experience highlights the value of using technology and data-driven decision-making to strengthen infrastructure resilience in the face of subsidence risks. This model offers insights for utilities and infrastructure operators globally, demonstrating how adoption of such practices can mitigate the impacts of land subsidence, safeguard critical services and optimize investment in infrastructure resilience.148 Resilient Economies: Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks 40