[Themaintainers] Amsterdam's canal crisis

[Paula Lackie]

While only tangentially related, I loved this story of a characteristically
innovative solution From Amsterdam.. in this case to Wild Peeing.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/08/mind-your-ps-amsterdam-installs-plant-pot-street-urinals-to-improve-toilet-behaviour/

On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 9:50 AM Paul Mignot <paul at withthegrid.com> wrote:

> HI Andrew, and fellow maintainers.
>
> As an Amsterdam local, happy to share some insights.
>
> I don't think the public has fully acknowledged yet the magnitude of the
> amount of deferred maintenance.
> Out of the 1800 bridges 850 need urgent repair and from the 600km quay
> walls 200km need repair! (source:
> https://www.amsterdam.nl/parkeren-verkeer/bruggen-kademuren/)
> Here a link to a dashboard
> <https://atosborne.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Dashboard.pdf> with more
> figures (I think google translate can also do PDF)
> The city has asked the market for options on how to monitor the bridges
> and quays more extensively as they cannot repair everything at the same
> time
> With Covid severely impacting the cities financials (as well as
> inhabitants wanting fewer tourists and Airbnbs and thus less tourist taxes)
> I expect this to be a big challenge in the coming years.
>
> As a matter of fact I am writing a blog post now regarding the maintenance
> of critical infrastructure and using this as an example. The Netherlands is
> every year rated one of the countries with the best infrastructure (2nd
> place after Singapore according to WEF). However whilst patting ourselves
> on the back we forgot to monitor our own infrastructure. If interested,
> will be happy to share my blog when done.
>
> Regards, Paul
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 4:25 PM Andrew Russell <arussell at arussell.org>
> wrote:
>
>> I thought you all might be interested in this story that connects the
>> maintenance of canals to long-term perspectives (both looking back and
>> looking forward).  I know we have at east one or two people on the list who
>> are locals in Amsterdam - I’d be curious to hear their reactions…
>>
>> http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/amsterdam-collapsing/index.html
>> Amsterdam has been collapsing for years. Now it's paying the price
>> Cracks and sinkholes are appearing alongside the waterways of Amsterdam.
>> Bicycles are tumbling into the swirling water as the canalsides vanish
>> beneath their wheels.
>> Quay walls are collapsing against houseboats. Bridges are in trouble.
>> While
>>
>> the recent Covid-19 restrictions have relieved the Dutch capital from
>>
>> the more superficial blight of overtourism, it seems the city has a more
>>
>> pressing existential crisis.
>> It's in danger of crumbling into the water it's built upon. And only a
>> makeover of enormous proportions can save it.
>>
>>
>> Fortunately, no one has
>>
>> been hurt yet, but unless it can work out how to carry out the millions
>>
>> of dollars' worth of delicate repairs needed, some of the beautiful
>>
>> medieval infrastructure that makes Amsterdam such a popular destination
>>
>> could be lost.
>> Amsterdam's day of reckoning shouldn't really have come as a surprise.
>> The
>>
>> city's children grow up with a verse: "Amsterdam, die grote stad / Die
>>
>> is gebouwd op palen / Als die stad eens ommeviel / Wie zou dat dan
>>
>> betalen?
>> Loosely translated: "Amsterdam, big city / It is built on piles / If the
>> city would collapse / Who would pay for that?"
>> The city is now collapsing -- and the Dutch are paying.
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/amsterdam-collapsing/index.html
>>
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> — — — — — — — — — — —
>>
>>
>> Andrew L. Russell, Ph.D.
>> Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
>> SUNY Polytechnic Institute
>> Donovan Hall - 2123B
>> 100 Seymour Road
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/100+Seymour+Road+Utica,+NY+13502?entry=gmail&source=g>
>> Utica, NY 13502
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/100+Seymour+Road+Utica,+NY+13502?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the
>> Work That Matters Most <http://www.prh.com/innovationdelusion>
>> Available Sept 8, 2020 | Pre-order now!
>>
>> t. 315-792-7317
>> w. https://sunypoly.edu/
>> e. arussell at arussell.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>> Themaintainers mailing list
>>
>>
>> Themaintainers at lists.stevens.edu
>>
>>
>> https://lists.stevens.edu/mailman/listinfo/themaintainers
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> *Paul Mignot | Founder & CEO | view my LinkedIN profile
> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmignot>*
> Atoomweg 7 | 3542 AA Utrecht | The Netherlands
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Atoomweg+7+%7C+3542+AA+Utrecht+%7C+The+Netherlands?entry=gmail&source=g>
> | tel: +31 6 26 414492 | paul at withthegrid.com
> www.withthegrid.*com* <https://www.withthegrid.com>| CoC: 66591880 |
> VAT: NL856622412B01
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Themaintainers mailing list
>
> Themaintainers at lists.stevens.edu
>
> https://lists.stevens.edu/mailman/listinfo/themaintainers
>
> --
Sent from Gmail Mobile: please excuse and/or laugh at the probable typos.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.stevens.edu/pipermail/themaintainers/attachments/20200827/2640db2d/attachment.html>