Published on: January 26, 2026, 09:44 AM
Rijkswaterstaat organized a new edition of the DigiTour on November 26, 2025, at an iconic location, namely the Oosterscheldekering.
Under the motto ‘Tech meets tide’, market parties, system integrators and technological partners came together to explore how we can jointly take the next step regarding industrial automation within Rijkswaterstaat.
From vision to action
The day started with an inspiring session about the vision on IA and the challenges shared by Rijkswaterstaat and its partners. Ron Kolkman, CIO of Rijkswaterstaat, emphasized the importance of standardization and cooperation: ‘We face a huge task. Only by working together and innovating smartly can we keep the Netherlands safe, accessible and sustainable.’
Dialogue on Modular Technical Architecture
An important theme of this DigiTour was the Modular Technical Architecture (MTA). In interactive sessions, participants reflected on input from DigiPartners and discussed how open standards, uniform building blocks and smart contract forms can contribute to more efficient management and maintenance. The dialogue provided valuable insights on standardization, cybersecurity and lifecycle management.
Costs and opportunities
Besides technology, the financial perspective was also addressed. How can we work smarter and more efficiently together? Participants identified opportunities such as reusing designs and applying digital twins and AI for predictive maintenance.
Joint course for management, standards and contract forms
The day concluded with a look to the future: a coherent perspective in which corridor-oriented operation, national standards and innovative contract forms are central. The next steps are clear: further elaboration of MTA management, joint KPIs and gathering best practices from the sector.
Outlook
With this DigiTour, Rijkswaterstaat takes another important step towards a uniform, safe and sustainable infrastructure. Follow-up sessions and implementation plans will follow in 2026, aiming for a robust IA strategy ready for tomorrow’s challenges.