CIVIL ENGINEERING TRENDS – II

Let us again turn to Hurricane Katrina……the chain reaction. And analyze.

The major error was the miscalculation of the level of “storm surge” if a hurricane of Category 4 or 5 hits New Orleans….direct hit, that is.

This is, of course, difficult to predict, as there was heavy rainfall, and the water that was flowing into the sea via Mississippi river got backed up due to the storm surge. So the water could not flow out of Lake Pontchatrain. The lake’s level rose beyond unprecedented levels.

Careful study should have been done about this…because a FLOW TANK cannot predict accurately. In short, system study would have been a very complex matter to arrive at a correct software calculations.

Once the level rose in the captive Lake Pontchatrain….it was the error in calculating the strength of the levees. By this I mean not only the levees surrounding the lake, but also the drainage & feeder canals.

The other day I thought of the intricate canal system that drains off water from Lake Pontchatrain.

So, what’s the solution to prevent further New Orleans type disasters ?

First of all, identify the cities under threat.

Then make a VERY DETAILED system study. This study should involve a team of civil engineers, geologists, town planners, architects, disaster management officials, amongst others.

After the system study is over, there should be close interaction with a I.T. professionals to develop a software. And once again, much more extremely sophisticated flow tanks are the need of the hour. One can even set up “natural flow tanks” in the midst of nature better mimicking natural conditions.