May 2007 ISSUE
world watch
Coastal Strategies Address Rising Sea Levels
By Gail Helgason
Freelance Writer
 |
BIGGER AND BIGGER |
When it comes to dealing with climate change and rising sea levels, engineers from coastal areas around the world have a lot to learn from each other. That’s one conclusion reached at a recent international forum on delta and coastal development held in Amsterdam, reports the Engineering News- Record (New York).
Engineers in the Netherlands noted that they are now trying to “live with the water” rather than confront it. Design strategies include wider floodplains along rivers, broader oceanfront setbacks and additional lines of defence. The Dutch also have legislation requiring the testing of main flood defences every five years.
Delegations provided information on delta issues in Dubai, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Greece, Mozambique, the United States, Singapore and Shanghai. About half of the world’s population is clustered near coastlines and ports.
Engineering For a More Urban World
The world’s gallop towards urbanization continues. Next year, in fact,
will mark the first time in history that more people will live in urban areas
than rural ones, Civil Engineering (Reston, Va.) reports.
The major shift in demographics will occur in Asia and Africa, and in poor
settlements
in developing countries. Populations in many large cities are predicted to reach
up to 20 million by 2015.
This massive scale of urbanization will create major engineering challenges,
such as maintaining clean air and water, proper sanitation and transportation.
Swimming With Dolphins
Mechanical Engineering (New York) reports that studying the fluid mechanics of
the dolphin-like kicks of elite American swimmers holds promise for improving
performance at the Olympics level.
Researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., analyzed the dolphin kicks of two Olympic swimmers. They made an animation of movements to simulate fluid flow, and will try to identify the high- and low-pressure zones that create thrust.
 |
FASTER WINE |
Australians Reduce Wine Time
You might think that wine-making is the one thing the world doesn’t need
to speed up. A group of Australian chemical engineers, however, would beg to
differ.
Traditionally, bentonite clay is added to wine during processing, where it’s allowed to settle to absorb and remove proteins that cause heat instability. Coverage in Chemical Engineering (New York) says researchers at the Australian Wine Institute and the Department of Chemical Engineering in Adelaide may have found a better, faster way.
They’ve developed a method called inline dosing, followed by centrifugal separation of the bentonite clay. The process reduces the time for this step from days to mere hours.
Good News
Down Under Your Feet
The advent of new technologies could result in geothermal resources supplying
more than 30,000 megawatts of power in the United States, according to the Geothermal
Energy Association. That amount would supply six per cent of today’s total
electricity needs in the U.S., states an article in Power Engineering (Tulsa,
Okla.).
The publication notes that geologists are finding better ways to locate geothermal reservoirs. As well, new technology can make use of significantly cooler geothermal temperatures than was possible a few decades ago.
Novel Project
In Korea
Costs Many Billions
What promises to be one of the world’s most unusual-looking convention
centres is under construction in South Korea’s New Songdo City project
in the city of Inch, reports Civil Engineering (Reston, Va.).
The design for the 28,000-square- metre structure features a sculptured roof that looks like a series of overturned boat hulls. The project, worth an estimated $25 billion US, is believed to be the biggest private real estate development in the world.
The international engineering firm, Arup, is in charge of structural aspects of the convention centre. The hull-like features will employ tubular steel pipes.
Mining With
Tomorrow Top of Mind
The role of mining in international development is under increasing scrutiny,
states an article in Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colo.).
About 75 per cent of active mines and exploration sites are in areas identified as high value by conservation organizations. As well, nearly 25 per cent of all active mines are located in weakly governed countries, creating additional challenges.
Twenty-three major banks have signed the Equator Principals since 2003, the publication reports. These principals set out a volunteer code of conduct for investment in socially or environmentally sensitive projects.
Managers of resource companies must become “more sophisticated” in their response to growing intergovernmental focus on the potential social and environmental effects of new projects. The appropriate response will not be more rules, but rather “a fundamental shift” in how a company views its activities.