Daphne van der Wal

Daphne van der Wal serves as Research Leader at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in Yerseke and holds a part-time full Professorship at the University of Twente's Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Department of Water Resources. Her expertise lies in applying remote sensing and geo-informatics to study coastal defense mechanisms, water quality, and ecosystem dynamics in estuarine and delta environments.

Her academic background includes a PhD in Physical Geography from the University of Amsterdam (1999) followed by postdoctoral research at Royal Holloway, University of London (1999-2002).

Dr. van der Wal's research focuses on Remote Sensing of tidal ecosystems, investigating Coastal Geomorphology through saltmarsh and mangrove development studies, Estuarine System dynamics including sediment transport and biogeomorphology, and Nature-based Flood Defense solutions. She examines how benthic ecology, water quality, and biophysical interactions shape coastal landscapes under climate change pressures, utilizing satellite, drone, and radar technologies to analyze ecosystem services like wave attenuation and sediment trapping.

Her recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on saltmarsh dynamics through long-term satellite analysis, revealing critical patterns in inundation frequency and spatial extent across European coastlines. These studies integrate bio-geomorphic interactions with tidal processes to develop predictive models for coastal resilience, directly informing nature-based flood risk management strategies under sea-level rise scenarios.

She has supervised four PhD candidates: Beatriz Marin Diaz (NIOZ/RUG, foreshore ecosystems), Bas Oteman (EU FAST project, remote sensing applications), Tisja Daggers (benthic diatoms as ecosystem indicators), and Sil Nieuwhof (shellfish ecosystem engineering). Her research is funded through major grants including NWO projects (MARSH, SALTGARDEN, SaltiSolutions), EU initiatives (FAST, REWRITE), and national programs like NWA North Sea, focusing on coastal protection, drought response, and renewable energy integration.

As Research Leader in NIOZ's Estuarine & Delta Systems department, she directs a technical team employing advanced remote sensing platforms (SAR, hyperspectral drones, LIDAR) and big data analytics within cloud computing environments. Her work with the EU H2020 REWRITE project and NO-REGRETS consortium develops operational frameworks for rewilding shorelines and assessing offshore wind park impacts, translating satellite-derived insights into practical coastal management tools for agencies like Rijkswaterstaat.