Lew Hartswick wrote:

BottleBob wrote
The Japanese built "Kansai International Airport" on a man-made
island
5 kilometers out to sea.

http://www.takenaka.co.jp/takenaka_e...ix/kiindex.htm
I'm sure we could use similar, or even improved, construction
methods
to rebuild New Orleans above sea level.


Yes! AND it's sinking. It started even before it was finished.

Lew:

The sinking of Kansai Airport seems to have slowed down. The reasons
for the sinking should be thoroughly investigated before using similar
construction methods elsewhere.

They
even tried to make provision for the sinking in some of the surfaces.
All in all "not a good idea" to build any large structures on fill.

It may not be a good idea to build on fill, but New Orleans is in all
probability going to be rebuilt since its such an important port city.
IF it's rebuilt at it's current under sea-level height, that IMO would
just be another tragedy waiting to happen. I'm not a geologist or a
construction engineer but if bedrock under New Orleans (supposedly 80
feet down), could be reached with pile drivings any sinking problem
might be helped.
*IF* the sea level rises appreciably in the next 100 year due to global
warming then building New Orleans high enough to stay above sea level
might be an option as well. What we learn with New Orleans might help
with other coastal cities that could be inundated with a rising ocean
due to melting ice caps.


--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob