Jo Johannis Dronkers

Jo Johannis Dronkers (24 May 1910 – 20 February 1973) was a Dutch mathematician who is notable for the development of mathematical methods for the calculation of tides and tidal currents in estuaries. His work formed much of the mathematical basis for the design of the Delta Works.

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Jo Johannis Dronkers
Born(1910-05-24)24 May 1910
Poortvliet, Zeeland, The Netherlands
Died20 February 1973(1973-02-20) (aged 62)
The Hague, The Netherlands
Alma materLeiden University
Known forTheory of tides
Delta Works
AwardsOrder of Orange-Nassau
Conrad medal of the Koninklijk Instituut van Ingenieurs (Netherlands Royal Institute of Engineers)
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics
Hydraulic engineering
InstitutionsRijkswaterstaat
ThesisOver stratifieerbare congruenties (On stratifiable congruencies)' (1939)
Academic advisorsWillem van der Woude

Life and career

Education and early work

Jo Johannis Dronkers was born in Poortvliet, the son of Willem Dronkers, a mayor, and Cornelia Pieternella van der Slikke. He had a twin brother, Johannis Jo Dronkers (1910-1993). He attended the State High School in Bergen op Zoom and then studied mathematics and physics at Leiden University. He completed his dissertation entitled "On stratifiable congruences" in 1939 under the supervision of Professor Willem van der Woude.[1][2]

Although his work dealt with a problem in pure mathematics, it was notable for containing eleven propositions, five of which concerned tides. Three of these five propositions contained fundamental criticism of the work of Jannis Pieter Mazure, who at that time was one of the most influential people in the field of tidal calculations in the Netherlands.[3] Another of Dronkers' propositions concerned an inaccuracy in the work of Hendrik Lorentz contained in Lorentz's report on tidal movements as a consequence of the Zuiderzee Works.[2]

Rijkswaterstaat and the Delta Works

In 1934, Dronkers joined Rijkswaterstaat, where he was placed in the Sea Arms, Lower Rivers and Coasts service, a section of the Directorate Lower Rivers under the leadership of Dr. Johan van Veen. Dronkers was charged with undertaking a detailed mathematical study of tides and related issues. He was actively involved in the reclamation works which followed the Inundation of Walcheren in 1945, and is portrayed as "The Calculator" in the non-fiction novel Het verjaagde water by A. den Doolaard.[4]

Dronkers published research and technical papers on hydraulic engineering subjects including tidal basin closures, in collaboration with engineers such as Frank Spaargaren. He also played an important role in advanced studies and design work for the Delta Works after the North Sea Flood of 1953. In 1963, he became head of the hydrological department of the Delta Service, succeeding Ir. H.A. Ferguson.[1] He made significant contributions to the tidal calculations required for the Delta Works.[5]

Dronkers' mathematical contributions were pivotal in advancing the development of numerous computational methodologies which replaced empirical principles with a more robust scientific foundation, transforming the domain of hydraulic engineering. They enabled the anticipatory analysis of the impacts of hydraulic interventions, thus facilitating the formulation of evidence-based strategies in this field.[6][7][8]

Dronkers' seminal work, "Tidal computations in rivers and coastal waters" (1964), remains a benchmark in the domain of tidal calculation theory.[9] However, its creation was not without controversy. Dronkers' computational approach, though rigorous, was criticized by Van Veen for its complexity and computational demands, which he believed could hinder timely practical applications. Instead, Van Veen proposed the use of an electrical analogue.[10] Conversely, the notable Dutch civil engineer Johannes Theodoor Thijsse advocated for a physical model-based approach.[11]

References
  1. "Eendrachtbode /Mededeelingenblad voor het eiland Tholen 15 december" [Communications bulletin for the island of Tholen, 15th December 1983]. Krantenbank Zeeland (in Dutch). 15 December 1983. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. Dronkers, J. J. (1939). Over stratifieerbare congruenties [On stratifiable congruences] (Thesis) (in Dutch). Leiden University. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  3. Mazure, J. P. (1963). "Hydraulic Research for the Zuiderzee Works". Van Douwen, A.A. (1963) Selected Aspects of Hydraulic Engineering, Liber Amicorum Dedicated to Johannes Theodoor Thijsse, on Occasion of His Retirement as Professor. Delft Technological University. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. Den Doolaard, A. (1948). Het verjaagde water [Roll back the sea] (in Dutch). Amsterdam: N.V. Em. Querido Uitgeversmaatschappij.
  5. Maris, A.G.; De Blocq van Kuffeler, V.J.P.; Harmsen, W.J.H.; Jansen, P.P.; Nijhoff, G.P.; Thijsse, J.T.; Verloren van Themaat, R.; De vries, J.W.; Van der Wal, L.T. (1961). "Rapport Deltacommissie. Deel 5. Bijdragen 4: Onderzoekingen betreffende de opzet van het Deltaplan en de gevolgen van de werken" [Report of the Delta Commission. Part 5. Contributions 4: Investigations regarding the setup of the Delta Plan and the consequences of the works]. Deltacommissie Deel 5, Bijdrage 4 (in Dutch). SDU. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  6. Dronkers, J.J. (1975). "Tidal theory and computations". Advances in Hydroscience. Elsevier. 10: 145–230. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-021810-3.50007-2. ISBN 9780120218103. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  7. Dronkers, J.J.; Schönfeld, J.C.; Waalewijn, A. (1959). "Tidal Computations in Shallow Water: Report on Hydrostatic Levelling Across The Westerschelde". Rijkswaterstaat Communications. The Hague, Netherlands: Rijkswaterstaat. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  8. Dronkers, J.J.; Breusers, H.N.C.; Vinjé, J.J.; Venis, W.A.; Spaargaren, F. (1968). "Closure of estuarine channels in tidal regions". De Ingenieur. Koninklijk Instituut van Ingenieurs. 80 (44): 127–178. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  9. Dronkers, J.J. (1964). Tidal computations in rivers and coastal waters. Amsterdam; New York: North-Holland Pub. Co.; Interscience Publishers. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  10. Van Veen, J. (1946). "Electrische nabootsing van getijden: Commentaar van dr J. J. Dronkers, met naschrift van de auteur" [Electrical Simulation of Tides: Commentary by Dr. J. J. Dronkers, with Postscript from the Author]. De Ingenieur (in Dutch). Koninklijk Instituut van Ingenieurs (17): 70–78. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  11. Van Den Ende, J. (1992). "Tidal calculations in the Netherlands, 1920-60". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 14 (3): 23–33. doi:10.1109/85.150066. ISSN 1058-6180. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
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