The Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel in Saitama, Japan is a massive flood-control tunnel system that is truly incredible to behold.
At over 25 meters tall and177 meters long, the Metropolitan Area Outer Discharge Channel first went under construction in 1992 and was only recently completed. The structure's purpose is to alleviate the heavy flooding that frequently hits Saitama, Japan by as much as 80 percent, but when not in use, it also serves as a popular place for tourists and sightseers.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Flood Control Infrastructures
- There is an opportunity to innovate flood control infrastructures in areas that are prone to flooding.
- Tourism Through Infrastructure
- Utilizing infrastructure designs that allow for dual use as tourist attractions can serve as a potential disruptive innovation opportunity for businesses in tourism and engineering.
- Sustainable Construction Materials
- Incorporating sustainable construction materials can provide an opportunity for disruptive innovation in construction and architecture industries.
Where This Applies
- Construction and Architecture
- There is an opportunity for the construction and architecture industries to develop new sustainable materials and methods when building infrastructures.
- Tourism
- The tourism industry can explore ways to incorporate engineering feats such as infrastructures into their travel offerings.
- Engineering and Infrastructure
- The development of advanced flood control technologies and infrastructures can be a game-changer for the engineering and infrastructure industries.
