the airport is sinking! valerie burris & julia littlefield

The Airport is Sinking!The Airport is Sinking!

Valerie Burris & Julia LittlefieldValerie Burris & Julia Littlefield

Kansai International AirportKansai International Airport

Background InformationBackground Information

• Built to reduce noise pollution Built to reduce noise pollution from current Osaka Airportfrom current Osaka Airport

• Built on Existing LandfillBuilt on Existing Landfill

• First airport built on First airport built on manmade islandmanmade island

• Island construction began in Island construction began in 19871987

• Terminal Construction began Terminal Construction began in 1991in 1991

• Architect: Renzo PianoArchitect: Renzo Piano

Expected RisksExpected Risks• Earthquakes: 1995 Earthquakes: 1995

Kobe Earthquake Kobe Earthquake nearly unscathyednearly unscathyed

• Extreme High TidesExtreme High Tides

• Protests from Protests from FishermenFishermen

Potential ProblemsPotential Problems

• Total estimated sinkage: 11.5 meters Total estimated sinkage: 11.5 meters over 50 yearsover 50 years

• Two years after the island was Two years after the island was completed, sinkage was 8 meterscompleted, sinkage was 8 meters

Why?Why?

• Soft clay under the ocean floor could not Soft clay under the ocean floor could not support the island’s weightsupport the island’s weight

•How could this have How could this have occurred?occurred?

• Flashback TimeFlashback Time

Construction TimelineConstruction Timeline

• 1987-Start of the 1987-Start of the airport island airport island seawall seawall construction construction (January)(January)

19871987

• Start of the airport Start of the airport island seawall island seawall construction construction (January)(January)

19911991

• Completion of Completion of reclamation work reclamation work on the airport on the airport island (December)island (December)

19941994

• Completion of the Completion of the Passenger Passenger Terminal Building Terminal Building (June)(June)

Later in 1994Later in 1994

• Opening of the Opening of the airport (September airport (September 4) 4)

But Wait There is More…But Wait There is More…

• The Airport was sinking faster than expected.The Airport was sinking faster than expected.

• The airport ha reportedly sunk 10 meters after the first The airport ha reportedly sunk 10 meters after the first 3 years of it’s construction. This is much faster than the 3 years of it’s construction. This is much faster than the initial expected rate of 11.5 meters in 50 years. initial expected rate of 11.5 meters in 50 years.

• Total sinkage to date is 12.18 meters. Sinking has Total sinkage to date is 12.18 meters. Sinking has slowed. In 2003, total sinking was just 14 centimetersslowed. In 2003, total sinking was just 14 centimeters

• Another concern is that the airport is also sinking Another concern is that the airport is also sinking unevenly which my cause the entire foundation to unevenly which my cause the entire foundation to buckle.buckle.

What was to be done?What was to be done?

• The airport's operator is planning to spend 27 billion yen The airport's operator is planning to spend 27 billion yen to protect the terminal buildings and refueling tanks to protect the terminal buildings and refueling tanks from underground flooding. from underground flooding.

• Pumps will also be installed in case flooding does occur. Pumps will also be installed in case flooding does occur.

• To counteract the uneven sinking columns supporting To counteract the uneven sinking columns supporting the building will be raised or shortened.the building will be raised or shortened.

• To absorb the sink a special hydraulic cylinder was To absorb the sink a special hydraulic cylinder was made, with an ordinary length usually calculated made, with an ordinary length usually calculated

• An intermediate support for An intermediate support for the cylinder was made to the cylinder was made to slide, and the thimble rod is slide, and the thimble rod is adjustable as a measure for adjustable as a measure for the top clearance, since the the top clearance, since the wire rope length also varies wire rope length also varies

• These are just some of the These are just some of the many actions being taken many actions being taken over time.over time.

Cool Fact!Cool Fact!

• After many counter measurements After many counter measurements against sinking were made after against sinking were made after 1994, KIX was awarded "Monuments 1994, KIX was awarded "Monuments of the Millennium" by the American of the Millennium" by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1999.Society of Civil Engineers in 1999.

What’s Happening Now?What’s Happening Now?

• This is a photo of This is a photo of the new terminalthe new terminal

Go ahead and ask!Go ahead and ask!

• You’ve got Questions? You’ve got Questions?

• We’ve got Answers…We’ve got Answers…