Kansai International Airport is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, Japan. Built at a staggering cost of $20 billion, it was designed to alleviate overcrowding at Osaka International Airport. However, despite its impressive construction, the airport has faced a significant challenge—it’s sinking.
The airport’s foundation is built on soft, compressible soil beneath Osaka Bay. As the weight of the airport and its buildings increases, the soil gradually compresses, causing the island to sink. This phenomenon, known as subsidence, was anticipated by engineers, but the rate of sinking has been faster than initially predicted.
As civil engineer David Shallcross notes, “While subsidence was expected, the accelerated rate has presented an ongoing challenge, forcing engineers to rethink their mitigation strategies.”
To combat this issue, engineers have implemented various measures to slow down the sinking process. These include pumping sand beneath the airport’s foundations to increase its stability and installing hydraulic jacks to raise the airport. Although these measures have been somewhat effective, the airport continues to sink at a slower rate.
According to Dr. Hiroshi Takashi, an expert in geotechnical engineering, “The solutions we have applied are innovative and necessary, but it’s a race against time. We are constantly monitoring and adapting to ensure the airport’s long-term functionality.”
Despite these challenges, Kansai International Airport remains a vital transportation hub, serving millions of passengers each year.
