Monsoons in Pakistan + Flood Control Methods
© Adrees Latif/Reuters via the New York Times
Throughout this decade, we’ve experienced and endured quite a few severe natural disasters. Whether it be earthquakes in Chile or Haiti, a hurricane in New Orleans, or a tsunami in Ao Nang, Thailand, these powerful natural forces illustrate the amazing, yet catastrophic, side of nature. Currently, Pakistan is suffering greatly from floods and mudslides that have resulted from monsoons. As CNN reports, an estimated 1,100 people have already been killed and thousands more are stranded on rooftops trying to escape the rising waters. The monsoons have destroyed twenty five bridges, washed away 58 kilometers of road, and damaged thousands of acres of crops. Plus, weather officials predict more monsoon rains today.
When Chile battled the 8.5 quake, the country greatly benefited from strict building codes. Yet, we know that many countries do not implement the same kinds of construction guidelines nor adequate flood control systems, plus the poverty levels in countries leave the less fortunate even more vulnerable. Jackie Craven’s architecture blog for About.com shows different strategies designed by architects and civil engineers to control flood water in their low-lying countries.
Take a look at some of the solutions. Would any of these solutions work in Pakistan?
© Jason Walton/iStockPhoto.com
Check out these movable flood barriers made of hollow steel in England that prevent flooding along the Thames River. The gates have prevented floods more than 100 times because they can revolve open to allow ample room for ships to pass, or revolve shut to prevent any water from flowing through.
© Juergen Sack/iStockPhoto.com
In Japan, water gates are automated using “aqua-drive” motors. These motors, which do not require any electricity, measure water pressure and either open or close the gates.
© Arjan de Jager/iStockPhoto.com
In Holland, a movable storm surge barrier built in 1997 is one of the largest moving structures in the world. It has computerized walls that close when water rises. As the water fills the tanks along the barrier, the weight pushes the walls down, preventing the water from passing through.
© Willy van Bragt/iStockPhoto.com
In the Netherlands, there is a series of movable dams along the Rhine River. This one, the Hagestein Weir, which was built back in the 1960s, has two arched gates that rotate downward to block the channel. The dam also generates powers on the Lek River near the village of Hagestein.
Our thoughts are with all those involved and affected by the monsoon. Help Pakistan here.
learn from curitiba, don’t build on low lying areas, instead leave them as parklands. Floods occur due to deforestation. Leave the forest intact, you get no floods.
Look to north of Burma / Myanmar, where forests still remain. Floods don’t occur there. But in the south where every tree is decimated, voila! – floods.
All those solutions posted so far are extremely costly and at best giant projects that require giant corporations to stamp their ugly carbon footprint on the country – corporations such as BP.
So… wich one of these for pakistan? or a poor country maybe? … well, im not sure coz they all seem to be a little too expensive… i mean, automated systems?… i dont know…
houses that float,the dutch do it,if it is a regular occurence,use existing materials?pontoon platforms?sorry to see so many die or be displaced.it is a sad day.old barges.could build small condo units on a barge.
practically speaking these expensive solutions would not work because of more than one reasons. It needs a more vernacular solution to sustain for a longer period of time. In Pakistan it rains like twice a year but whenever it does, it becomes pretty destructive, otherwise it has a warm climate just like all other countries lying on the tropics.
I totally agree. This is going to impossible. I want to help paksitan but this is too expensive. So many field get destroyed. An irragatin plus water storage system might do it.
10:02 AM Aug 2nd
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