What Does it Take to Build a Man-Made River? | Generation Earth | BBC Earth Science
Ғылым және технология
Quenching China’s thirst is no mean feat - the building of this aqueduct is one of greatest ventures of engineering prowess in the world, moving 1,200 tonne sections with precision down to the centimetre.
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The reporting here is really poor. It gave no formal name of the project, no length, no maps to show where it is or where it is going, etc. BBC, please do better.
@StillAliveAndKicking_
3 ай бұрын
As long as they used the correct pronouns …
@bernicemarie7243
3 ай бұрын
Northern china to Biejing with no pumps. They are really destroying alot of wildlife habitat with this one.
@Kx0195
3 ай бұрын
The BBC don't want you knowing how much better other countries are at infrastructure when we can't even build a functioning sewage system because of corruption.
@gohibniugoh1668
3 ай бұрын
I am going to guess that this is linked with their project to divert the Ganges river.
@emmanuilushka
3 ай бұрын
@@gohibniugoh1668 this not linked to Ganges it's a channel which brings Yangtze River waters to Northern territories
Now I understand why China uses fully half of the world's concrete and steel. What a massive civil engineering project. Humanity has always moved water from where it is available to where it is needed.
@zacharythornton1904
3 ай бұрын
@@jrobbin24no it’s because they are doing what America did in the 50s & 60s and doing infrastructure projects
@stevesaturnation
3 ай бұрын
@@jrobbin24if you’re an American and saying this I’m not exactly shocked at the hypocrisy. It more than fits the average profile of a complete denier in our own country’s excess and greed.
@voongnz
3 ай бұрын
They should line the whole top of it with solar panels. Would make a giant solar farm without taking up much extra space.
@weareallgodschildrenlovefr9556
3 ай бұрын
@@jrobbin24You have nothing but hatred. God bless you for your unhappiness 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
@ChibiKeruchan
3 ай бұрын
@@voongnz na they either put solar panel there or ... put smaller ship to transport goods.
Basically this is a modern day version of a Roman aqueduct.
@TheCaptainSplatter
3 ай бұрын
Yup
@danielt.8573
3 ай бұрын
Except everything will fall apart in less than 10 years. Roman aqueducts, bridges, buildings are still up 2000 years later. lol
@BlackOperations530
3 ай бұрын
@@danielt.8573 True, Communist regimes don't build anything of lasting quality.
@thripnixe
3 ай бұрын
@@danielt.8573 okey
@ronblack7870
3 ай бұрын
@@danielt.8573and also not working for a long time. built by slaves as well and they were white
What does it take to make a video about a man made river in China? - A map !!! Where is it? There is no map 😂😂😂
@lewisbeauchamp9092
3 ай бұрын
My thoughts exactly
@techpriest4787
3 ай бұрын
I do not get the joke... :/
too short to make sense
@FLAGMACHINE11
3 ай бұрын
The entire operations of the government responsible for it's production don't make sense. Much like those of any other parallel government
@flubba86
3 ай бұрын
These videos always feel like they're random clips taken from a longer documentary, but the longer documentary got cancelled or was never finished.
Impressive: hope the quality of materials means it has a very long life. At 2:38 there’s a little reminder that sometimes what’s needed is a man with a stick to bash something 😊
I've been advocating something like this for decades in Africa & Australia.
The marvel of the information technology. One of the famous news agency in the time of the internet, after the report not even a clue to search for
looking forward to videos when segments start busting open and causing floods
I would like to know the design period.repairing will be a complex process.I'm guessing there are surge lakes long the the artificial river.
@williamwatitwa3534
3 ай бұрын
been years in the making over 60
better than pipes?
@_MaZTeR_
3 ай бұрын
I guess in the long run, you don't need to worry about the costs of pumps like the narrator said, that pipes require, so maybe this will pay itself eventually.
Is this a clip from a longer program? Some context would be nice, and the ending makes no sense.
For a second I thought Quen Ching was the location of said aqueduct 😅
@Pb4Au
3 ай бұрын
Same😂😂😂
@StillAliveAndKicking_
3 ай бұрын
No, he is the chief architect. Marr Ching keeps watch and Qer Ching is in charge of finance. It’s a family business.
What a place to ride
I am sure this can't be bad for anything🤔
Mas parece escenas de otro mundo. Eso sucede cuando se tiene claro lo prioritario y primordial: el ser humano y la naturaleza (falta ver los efectos al medio ambiente). Gracias.
Hopefully they're checking all their boxes on quality control i.e. no beach sand in the concrete - because apparently that's a problem with building projects there. Beach sand has enough salt content to turn concrete brittle - like crack-it-with-a-roofing-hammer brittle.
Perfectly level on a plane, no added curvature compensation needed.
Does it matter as long as it’s not Tofu cement! 😂
apparently bbc fired the entire staff, gave 1 employee a computer and said make us videos with AI. where is the map? how long is it? who is it benefiting? where is the water coming from? so many unanswered questions. 2 /10 for this video.
The longevity of concrete structures in water can vary significantly, ranging from a few decades to a century or more. Several factors influence the rate of deterioration, including the flow dynamics, water pressure, and natural elements like currents and seismic activity. Additionally, the specific composition and quality of the concrete used play a crucial role in determining its durability. Given the massive scale of this project, it is imperative to account for potential weather-related challenges and the ever-present risk of seismic events caused by the Earth's constantly shifting tectonic plates. While the initial 20 to 30 years may see the successful operation of such infrastructure, the likelihood of significant failures and accidents increases substantially beyond that timeframe. Infrastructure development is undoubtedly a cornerstone of human progress, but how we approach its design, construction, and maintenance ultimately determines its long-term viability and impact on societies worldwide.
My money is on a shoping trolley blockage in 2031
..........................................dudes build a river above the ground
@Delosian
3 ай бұрын
Rome did this 2,000 years ago with the aqueduct systems. Germany, the Netherlands and France also have rivers above ground, and some rivers even go over other rivers.
@ark7054
3 ай бұрын
Better call it an irrigation system rather than manmade river. From no angle it looks like a river.
They are pumping these waters from south to north. This is mind bending, challanging natural flow of nature. Chinese are hard working people. There future generations will get so much better cozy life ahead
@guaguatengteng
3 ай бұрын
not if that blood sucking government system is still in place
No information about how many miles between safety gates?
Would a pipeline not work and be easier?
What does it take? A crane lifter.😂
This must be where all the rebar is going, and why other projects are using bamboo for reinforcement (Tofu Dreg Construction).
@AFlyingCookieLOL
3 ай бұрын
So why is there still so many buildings you ignorant westerner?
I always get impressed when I see people using their heads to solve enormous tasks
@eduwino151
3 ай бұрын
they need that canal to keep nothern china from becoming a dessert
🏞💧 Fascinating insights into the engineering marvel of building a man-made river! 🌍🔧
That’s a LOT of Tofu Dregs!
@user-ze5zk7eu6j
3 ай бұрын
Cry baby 😂😂
@blaydCA
3 ай бұрын
@@user-ze5zk7eu6j Those are tears from LAUGHING!
What's the purpose when it cannot even water the surrounding landscape along it's path.
China ❤❤❤❤
Pipes: "exist" China: we don't use that here
@jamesnjenga813
3 ай бұрын
Pumping such water is too expensive
Tofu building projects , i give it 20 years before it falls apart
What about the people that depend on the water south of Beijing. If so much water is being diverted will they be able to live the same life?
@pjacobsen1000
3 ай бұрын
The video is very short on useful information, but basically, southern China receives more rain than can be consumed, while north China receives too little rain for what is needed.
Where will the water come from?
@eduwino151
3 ай бұрын
southern china is wet and nothern China is arid they basically moving the excess water that flows to the sea to the dry north that needs it droughts have been devastating on nothern parts of china that has more people than all of europe
@heartsineurope
3 ай бұрын
Space.
@allenellisdewitt
3 ай бұрын
Pretty sure the local ecology & environment wouldn't consider it "excess"@@eduwino151
@regorflora7915
3 ай бұрын
Originaly the water came from the melted himalayan ice.
@pjacobsen1000
3 ай бұрын
It comes from southern China which has an abundance of rain.
What happens if it breaks?
.07% if my math is right. (1cm/15m) a lot left unanswered, how long? who is going to dry up and die to provide the water?
No surprise coming from the same people that built the great wall.
The sad thing is all these resources, work, effort, & environmental impact are for a project that is only temporary, and won't last but a few decades. It would make more sense to build something like this that would last for centuries. Even the Roman aqueducts still exist today, because they were built with methods and materials that would stand the test of time. Anytime you build a structure with steel reinforcements, eventually, it will fail. Better off to use non-metal reinforcements, or at least used powder-coated steel reinforcements to double the life expectancy.
@HaHaBIah
3 ай бұрын
All infrastructure is the same, what ultimately determines how long it will last is how long you maintain it for. The Roman aqueducts that still work today only work because they have been restored, multiple times. It isn't just about the structural integrity, a lot of water infrastructure fails because it gets clogged up. After the Romans were gone, the aqueducts eventually got clogged up with silt from the river because no one was there to clean it. And there is a bit of survivor bias there, there's countless buildings from the ancient era that have been built using similar materials. Only a very small minority survive today.
@pjacobsen1000
3 ай бұрын
All structures have a design life. They are designed to last a certain amount of time. Once that time gets close, stakeholders will decide if it should be renovated to make it last even longer, or if it should be rebuilt. That's no different from any other built structure. Although the video doesn't mention it, this aqueduct is probably designed to last 50-100 years. The budget is calculated to reflect this reality. Nowadays, nobody just goes out and starts building something, not knowing how long it will last or what it will cost.
@ikeu6433
3 ай бұрын
Huh? The Empire State Building is almost a century old and it is steel reinforced, what are you talking about 😂
@ericmcquisten
3 ай бұрын
@@ikeu6433 really? so all the historic records dating back to 1930s are wrong? As are all the engineer reports apparently... according to you. Because all records show the Empire State Building wasn't built with any rebar in the concrete at all, despite the fact that rebar pre-dates the Empire State Building by nearly 20 years. But according to you, there is rebar in the concrete holding up the Empire State Building. Well if that's the case, you should contact the authorities and share your findings. 🤣😆😂😄😅
@ericmcquisten
3 ай бұрын
@@pjacobsen1000 what is the design life of the pyramids in Egypt, Sudan, South America, Asia, & East Asia? Where are the stakeholders who decide when those pyramids need to be renovated? And what about the Roman structures? What are their design life? Where are their stakeholders? Also, I mentioned that the Chinese aqueduct system will only last a few decades. So stating it will only last 50+ years, is repeating what I already said. Also thanks for stating the obvious about life expectancy estimates and cost estimates. You must be good at reading front-page headlines, and repeating those headlines to everyone you come across. Come back when you have something real to add.
What on Earth did I just watch? Can't you get more information than that? Like where the water will come from and where it will be going in specific detail? There isn't really any information given at all.
a shovel.
@Tru3Times
3 ай бұрын
😂😂
@Pocketfarmer1
3 ай бұрын
I was thinking excavator but you nailed it!
This report lack description.
Ok… Can the source provide this much water?
@_MaZTeR_
3 ай бұрын
And will not end up like the aral sea?
@eduwino151
3 ай бұрын
southern china is wet and nothern China is arid they basically moving the excess water that flows to the sea to the dry north that needs it droughts have been devastating on nothern parts of china that has more people than all of europe
@aniksamiurrahman6365
3 ай бұрын
@@eduwino151 Also south having flood at the same time as notth having drought. That's the ptoblem these are supposed to solve.
@eduwino151
3 ай бұрын
yup it quite critical especially with climate change now making droughts and floods more servere@@aniksamiurrahman6365
the first time it comes in contact with warter its all going to dissolve because of tofu-dreg-construction
little more information would be nice...
I feel like tunnelling would be a better idea?
@pjacobsen1000
3 ай бұрын
Depends on the geology and geography of the region. In some places, a tunnel might be the right choice, while elsewhere, an aqueduct such as this will be the right choice.
@mysticery
3 ай бұрын
@@pjacobsen1000 yea. Totally understand what you mean. But damn, the amount of concrete to make this diversion. I feel like it's depleting Earth's resources 😂😂😂
Shows female worker, 3 seconds later: "A team of 20 men.."
A raised canal isn't a river.
Concrete is huge producer of CO2 1370 lbs per ton manufactured concrete this project will produce 22million square meters And yet we’re told to drive electric cars
Wonder how chine be now if they did learn that from rome😅❤
The Roman’s did this 2 thousand years ago without large cranes.
@justinh2701
3 ай бұрын
Yeah they were that big too right 🤦♂️. When people try and sound smart they just end up looking dumb
Next step, water distribution for asia
Libya was building similar project already 40 years ago. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Man-Made_River
Why build an aqueduct above ground instead of just building a river you know...in the ground? Surely it would have been easier to build a giant concrete pipe instead
@ftgv1
3 ай бұрын
Good question... If you do it that way, maybe its more difficult to monitor how the water flows and less easy to detect and fix blockages and such ? Idk, not an engineer. I just thought about it again. If the destination lacks water, its likely higher than the source ? Therefore the aqueduct needs to start high so it can gradually slope down (up) towards the destination ?
@ftgv1
3 ай бұрын
Just went down a bit of a chinese water infrastructure rabbit hole trying to find out where exactly this construction is. Makes one wonder how soon fresh water scarcity will be a real problem..
@j.f.christ8421
3 ай бұрын
@@ftgv1 Ex-survey draughtsman here; because the Earth is not flat (despite what the loons say) building something dead flat like this needs to be is really hard, even over a few kilometres. Elevation is cheaper than pumps. Underground pipeline could be done, but you wind up needing to dig a lot of trenches which is expensive & slow. As for why a aqueduct vs pipe, possibly cheaper again (both time & materials), I don't know. I'd completely cover it and put a bike path on it, that's been done before.
@DanielSilva-jj2lz
3 ай бұрын
stupid question. pumping would be necessary, and the use of electrical energy to drive the engines. the ground where this aqueoduct is being built is at a level lower than the level of the city of Beijing, and the water source is at a level higher than the city of Beijing
@mirror452
3 ай бұрын
Parts of this water transfer project actually crosses over and under other rivers. Aside from the other factors people here mentioned, there are also environmental concerns, as well as water safety concerns. It's easy to monitor water quality at the source, but it becomes harder to control water quality when you allow the water to mix with other water all along the route.
They just don't learn. You don't mess with the environment without consequences. First they kill sparrows, now they move masses of water...
... And why it shouldn't be done as we shouldn't meddle with nature or we should be prepared to pay the price.
КНР впереди планеты всей, просто фантастика такого никогда и ни где не было и не будет , такое под силу только Китаю.🇨🇳❤🇨🇳❤🇨🇳❤🇨🇳❤🇨🇳❤
The great canal of China
China is really working for there people's..
A man made river is just a canal . They are all over the world
@aniksamiurrahman6365
3 ай бұрын
Yes. But the scale is huge in China.
Another gigantic environmental desaster in the making
I would think a channel in the ground with pump/lift stations would be cheaper.
@alexanderx33
3 ай бұрын
That depends upon having a mountain side to shift up and down as the foundation for varying the grade. All of the longest in ground aquaducts I know of use that technique. But when that's not available all you CAN do is lift it up above the flatland your crossing. I don't know where it starts but it would not be surpising if they started it that way and on approach to beijing had to cut across like this.
Horrible documentary. Never even mentioned where this is built, how long it is. Just random shots put together. I'm expecting better from BBC.
@genghisthegreat2034
3 ай бұрын
Doesn't mention how much water it is expected to carry, or from where, or what fraction of the flow there is being diverted. It's just a voiceover on a concrete technology video. It can't comment on what isn't there.
就像分不清叔叔舅舅,姑姑姨一样,外国人江河渠也分不清。 结合自然环境的人工开挖水道叫河;完全人工的水道叫渠;完全自然的水道叫江,天工的产物。 🍀🍀🐾🐾👣
Project seems amazing. Why no details coz in China it's govt choice. Not a fan of BBC but no need to blame them for less info.
That Chinese steel and concrete will just fall apart 5 years after construction.
back in the day, it took some engineer and bunch of slave worker.
What is the environment impacted 😞
Tofuduct
Theft of Tibet water 💦
in answer to the question? an idiot...or a billionaire
Well funny enough a man
Come on BBC, be a bit professional and generous, You prepare an hour program about the simplest things, here is one of the world's mega-engineers and you skimp on time and details, I know it's hard for you to report positive things about China, but there is no choice, give more details that people can understand
Oh god, how long till this kills people from tofu dreag construction
@massimookissed1023
3 ай бұрын
At least that looked like real rebar. I've heard of some buildings where the contractors saved themselves some cost by swapping it out for bamboo canes.
@j.f.christ8421
3 ай бұрын
@@massimookissed1023 If you look at the photos of where an apartment building fell over, they saved concrete on the foundations by filling it full of tin cans, those rectangular ones used for olive oil. What could go wrong, eh? Bamboo rebar is a new one though, lol.
@aniksamiurrahman6365
3 ай бұрын
Identify you r a Karen without explicitly showing it.
@infi44
3 ай бұрын
Well, 3M is a small number when it comes to casualties in China.
The next human generation will look at these buildings and ask thyself who made it?
Answer: American Taxpayer Money.
Are they really praising China or Xi Jinping?
To answer the answer the question of the title is... go ask the Libyans and Muammar Gaddafi since they are the first to build "The Man Made River". Oh that's right you can only ask Libyans since NATO and the US rather protect the US petrol dollar.
Tofu dreg construction
Qaddafi did it first in North Africa
No mention of how long, time to build, cost, environmental impact, forced deportation of villagers and other issues. Shoddy BBC. What do they do with all of their money? Spend it on diversity projects?
It takes environmental degradation to build a man made river 😷🌞🥵
That’s not a river; that’s an above-ground aqueduct. I guess the world’s biggest tofu dreg project is one way to keep all the unemployed working for a few years.
A map? Where is a simple map to show location & scale of this 'grand' aqueduct. Without perspective and reference, all facts are meaningless, as is now with this empty video.
just a complete disrespect for the environment, or China
Everyone have less children. Get a dog or cat.
Why not properly and healthily utilise the rivers we have already been provided from the planet? Just kidding let's rip it up Beijing style
@fireaza
3 ай бұрын
That's exactly the problem, there's not enough planet-provided rivers in the area they want to bring this water to.
This is a 100 year project en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South%E2%80%93North_Water_Transfer_Project
The bad part of all of it is that Chinese concrete is know to be of poor quality. Their mega dam has shown cracks already.
@HighWealder
3 ай бұрын
And when it cracks the steel will rust and burst out !
Can the BBC not use China as examples of great engineering or construction examples. China has the worst track record for quality and innovation. It's complete disgrace of journalistic standards for the BBC to produce this crap.
If Libya waited to build theirs until social media and video platforms existed, we might have better appreciated the significance of what was built in Africa, irrespective of how negatively media at the time wanted us to see Libya.
@aniksamiurrahman6365
3 ай бұрын
And the nation which controls these media also bombed and destroyed that awesome thing 😢
@michasosnowski5918
3 ай бұрын
Libya used underground reservoirs, China is trying to reverse natural flow of the river(from South to North).