My name is Pieter van de Werdt , and I started as a consultant at Delta Pi in early 2023. Before joining Delta Pi, I worked as a consultant for the province of North Holland, specializing in movable structures such as bridges and locks. This expertise aligns significantly with the knowledge and expertise available at Delta Pi. My experience and knowledge are therefore a valuable addition to the Delta Pi team. I see ample opportunity for further development in the coming period, and I'm very much looking forward to it.
In this blog post, I'd like to share my experiences of my first six months at Delta Pi. It's an inspiring environment to work in, and I hope this will give you a glimpse into my work.
An impressive environment
As a native of Vught, I was surprised I hadn't noticed before that the historic Vught Station now serves as an office. This national monument, dating from 1866, has retained its characteristic station appearance, while the interior has been transformed into a beautiful office.
On my first visit to Delta Pi, I received a warm welcome from Peter and Ivan. When I mentioned that as a child I'd often sat in the station waiting room and bought train tickets at the ticket counter with my father, I was immediately given a detailed tour. It was fascinating to see how the old station building had been restored and how Delta Pi had managed to preserve many historical details and combine them with a modern, flexible layout.
Delta Pi's decision to convert this station into an office immediately gave me a sense of appreciation. It showed me that Delta Pi isn't solely driven by business objectives but also cherishes the social and cultural aspects of its activities. It feels like an inspiring environment to work in, and it's a great way to preserve cultural heritage.
The gray area of (machine) safety: tailor-made solutions
During my work, I gained extensive experience in ensuring the safety of movable structures, both at the object and area level. When I visited the Oosterscheldekering storm surge barrier with my new colleague, I discussed the challenges of finding the right safety measures in the gray area between new standards and existing situations, including monumental structures. Sometimes, for example, a railing no longer meets the current standard but has only a minor deviation that doesn't pose a significant risk. In such cases, a (substantiated) deviation from the standard is possible. However, determining the appropriate measure is often complex and can even lead to higher costs and risks, such as the use of temporary riser pipe structures with protruding sections. Therefore, it's important to have this discussion and not blindly implement a proposed measure just to comply with the standard. During our visit to the Oosterscheldekering, we happened to see a fence raised with riser pipes, and we both had a good laugh at the solution chosen.
Pioneering in unknown territory
As a consultant at Delta Pi, I've learned and experienced a great deal in the first six months. The work is varied and helps me further develop my knowledge and skills and gain new insights. For example, I worked on risk management, failure probability analysis, and maintenance plans for complex infrastructure projects. I also conducted a risk analysis of unexploded ordnance and worked on a tender for a comprehensive impact analysis on flooding.
What makes my work at Delta Pi so challenging is the opportunity to pioneer new areas. Delta Pi is an organization that doesn't shy away from new methods and approaches and always embraces challenges. This perfectly aligns with my own drive to constantly embrace new challenges and find innovative solutions.
Besides my work in movable artworks, I've discovered that my expertise can also be valuable in other fields. At Delta Pi, I'm regularly presented with challenging projects that force me to apply my knowledge in new ways. This not only stimulates my own development but also contributes to the success of the projects I work on.
The first six months as a consultant at Delta Pi have given me a lot of energy and motivated me to develop myself more broadly and take on even more challenges. I'm happy to be part of an organization dedicated to innovation and achieving results.
