Venice is Sinking and How Engineers are Working to Save it.

Venice is in danger of being lost to its sinking foundations and rising sea levels. To prevent a historical catastrophe, the city is fighting back against nature.

Venice is an incredible city, unlike any other in the world. About 120 islands make it up, and they're linked by a network of canals and 391 bridges. This results in a network of waterways that can only be navigated on a boat. Alleys, museums, and churches that date back hundreds of years dot its streets, creating a breathtaking landscape.

But, since the city is built on a network of islands in a lagoon, the foundations of the buildings are slowly sinking into the mud and clay on which they were built. This sinking, known as subsidence, is exacerbated by rising sea levels resulting from climate change. Consequently, Venice is at risk of being lost to the sea if steps are not taken to address this issue.

How It's Sinking?

An Image of Venice being Flooded During a Storm in the Adriatic Sea.

Venice is built on a series of islands in a lagoon on the Adriatic Sea. These islands are connected by a network of canals and bridges. The foundations of the buildings are made of wood and other materials that are slowly sinking into the mud and clay on which they were built. This is a natural process called subsidence.

A satellite image of the Venice Lagoon. The Red you see in the image is the City of Venice.

Subsidence is the gradual sinking of land due to various factors, including the weight of buildings and other structures and the natural settling of the ground. In Venice, subsidence is exacerbated by rising sea levels resulting from climate change. As the sea levels rise, the water puts more pressure on the foundations of the buildings, causing them to sink even faster.

The side of the Rialto Bridge in Venice in the year 1900, with six algae-free steps. Photo credit: Osvaldo Bohm

The side of the Rialto Bridge in Venice in the year 2021, with only one step without the algae that grow at high tide. Photo credit: Francesco da Mosto

How Engineers Are Working to save it.

An Image of the MOSE Project used to protect Venice from High Tides and Rising Sea Level

Engineers are working on a number of projects in an attempt to save Venice from sinking. One of the most ambitious projects is the (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) project. The MOSE project is a series of mobile barriers that can be installed at the entrance of the Venetian lagoon to protect the city from flooding. The barriers are designed to rise up when the water level reaches a certain point, preventing the sea from entering the lagoon.

An Image showing MOSE Project At its Work!

Another project that is underway is the strengthening of the foundations of the buildings in Venice. Engineers are using a technique called micro piling to reinforce the foundations of the buildings. Micro piling involves drilling small holes into the ground and injecting concrete or other materials into the holes to strengthen the foundations of the buildings.

An Image of how Mirco piling works and reinforces the foundation of Buildings.

In addition to these projects, engineers are also

working on reducing the amount of water flowing into the lagoon. This includes building new water treatment plants and improving the existing ones to reduce the water's pollution.

What Future Holds for Venice.

Overall, there is still a lot of work to be done to save Venice from sinking. But with the help of engineers and other experts, there is hope that the city can be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

- By Devesh Vaswani