Author(s): Gregory De Costa; Kenta Sato; Yuji Toda
Linked Author(s): Yuji Toda, Gregory De Costa
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Throughout history, people have built structures around rivers for flood control, water utilization, and settlements. While these structures have provided people with a more affluent lifestyle, they have also had a variety of negative impacts. The impact of structures is also expected to vary depending on the characteristics of the area. Therefore, this paper examines the relationship between the impact of river structures and the environment and culture surrounding the area. Research methods included case studies and thesis research to assess the impact of river structures in New Zealand and Japan. As a result, in the New Zealand case, they caused impacts such as reduced marine life and increased groundwater elevation, as well as cultural problems for the indigenous Maori people. In the Japanese case, they caused environmental and flood control problems, such as the reduction of beaches and the conversion of bare sandbars into forests. These comparisons show that river structures not only cause different environmental and flood control problems, but also cultural problems depending on the characteristics of their surroundings. Therefore, when constructing river structures, it is necessary to consider the environmental and cultural characteristics surrounding the river and take appropriate measures.
Year: 2024