What do you do when you need to connect one waterway to another but they’re separated vertically by 24 metres? You build the Falkirk Wheel.
This ergonomic invention works on the principle that any object will always displace its weight in water, so when a ship reaches the upper wheel, tanks of water in the lower wheel are released and the heavier object causes the wheel to turn (bringing the boat down to the lower level…vice-versa to get up).
The whole project cost 32 million pounds and was finished in 2002. It has since changed the travel through water in Scotland and made for a much more convenient community. It also has managed to attract quite a fair amount of tourists.
What's Driving This Trend
- Water Transportation Innovation
- Revolutionary waterways like the Falkirk Wheel open up new possibilities for water transportation with potential for further development in the industry.
- Sustainable Engineering
- The principles used in creating the Falkirk Wheel, such as using water displacement to power the system, open up opportunities for sustainable engineering and green innovation.
- Tourism Infrastructure Development
- Waterway projects like the Falkirk Wheel can become major tourist attractions and drive tourism infrastructure development in a region.
Who This Affects Most
- Maritime Transportation
- The Falkirk Wheel and other water transportation innovations have the potential to revolutionize maritime transportation by providing more efficient and sustainable ways of moving goods and people across waterways.
- Sustainable Engineering
- The principles used in designing the Falkirk Wheel, and the focus on sustainable engineering, can be applied to a variety of industries seeking to reduce their impact on the environment.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Waterway projects like the Falkirk Wheel can drive tourism and hospitality development in a region, including hotels, restaurants, and other supporting infrastructure.
