[Themaintainers] Amsterdam's canal crisis

Tue Sep 1 15:48:02 EDT 2020

English language version: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/09/20-metres-of-amsterdam-canal-wall-collapses-in-university-district/

Don GOODMAN-WILSON
On 1 Sep 2020, 20:03 +0200, Lynn Berger <lynn at decorrespondent.nl>, wrote:
> Hi all,
> This happened today: https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/kade-in-centrum-van-amsterdam-met-lantaarnpaal-en-al-ingestort~a2f44086/?referrer=https://www.google.com/
> A canalside collapsed, taking a lamppost with it (for some reason, all the news outlets mention this lamppost, as if it makes it even worse).
> 😱
>
> > On Fri, 28 Aug 2020 at 23:28, Don Goodman-Wilson <don at maintainerati.org> wrote:
> > > Also an Amsterdam local (Paul, nice to meet you!)
> > >
> > > Agreed that the public here has been ignorant, whether willful or not I couldn’t say. This barely makes the Dutch-language news that I monitor, and has absolutely not been reported on in the English-language news (although the current state of English-language news here is an entire topic in itself).
> > >
> > > Over the past couple of years, there have also been a number of pretty bad wind storms here that have blown over trees in older parts of the city, sometimes taking out a bridge or historic building with them. I wonder how closely related these phenomena are?
> > >
> > > Paul, I would very much love to read your blog post.
> > >
> > > I can’t find a link at the moment, but there’s another issue with our rail infrastructure. On one hand, almost none of it is rated for high-speed trains (despite high-speed connections to Belgium, France, and Germany—those trains just travel quite slowly inside the Netherlands!), but also the projections for needed capacity have been amazingly low, to the point that the network is currently at full saturation, yet facing (from pre-COVID estimates) continued year-over-year growth. There is currently no plan (as I recall) for improving this situation (although NS did just announce that they can shave a whopping 20 minutes off of the 6.5 hour train ride to Berlin!)
> > >
> > > Don GOODMAN-WILSON
> > > Board, Maintainerati Foundation
> > >
> > > > On 27 Aug 2020, at 17:47, Paula Lackie <plackie at carleton.edu> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > 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 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
> > > > > > > > Utica, NY 13502
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most
> > > > > > > > Available Sept 8, 2020 | Pre-order now!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > t. 315-792-7317
> > > > > > > > w. https://sunypoly.edu/
> > > > > > > > e. arussell at arussell.org
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
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