The collapse of the building in Shanghai (27 / 06 / 2009)

To realize how the geotechnical engineering's job is important, we sometimes need to take a look at some building disasters and try to understand what are the reasons that led to these catastrophic situations.

This is the case of an unoccupied building still under construction at Lianhuanan Road in the Minhang district of Shanghai, which collapsed, killing one worker. 

We are dealing with a large construction, a 13-story building, newly constructed, which litteraly toppled over. 

These pictures reflect the scale of the accident.

Here is a video giving a short explanation of the situation :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGHqXM5OGtY

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What are Geosciences ? Why study earth sciences ?

What is geoscience ? Should I study it ? 

In one sentence : Geoscience is the science which study how our planet works. 

Geoscience not only explain the solid Earth principles but also focuses on its interaction with the atmosphere, the oceans, and the biosphere. 
 With Geoscience you can understand the soil under your feet, the very ground you are walking every day on, you can predict how might climate change will affect our planet, prevent from natural disasters, learn how to exploit efficiently the planet ressources... 

HOW CAN YOU KNOW IF THE GEOSCIENCES FIELD IS WHERE YOU BELONG ? 

 ● It is where you belong if you love nature, Earth and want to protect it.
 ● If you are exciting about the history of your planet, its formation, its evolution, about how the plates moves without we even feel it, if you are fascinated about the power of volcanoes, about the greatness of the mountains, about the magnificience of the the "Iguazu falls" or the "Antelope Canyon" or the "Chocolate Hills" or the "Blue Lake Cave" , about how the wind and the waves slowly erose mountains and cliffs, if you are fascinated about all these beautiful geological structures and processes then you should study geosciences.
 ● If you wonder about the underlying sciences of geological phenomenons, if you want to understand Pisa tower leaning (for example), if you want to help people and save lives by predicting hazards you really should study geosciences
However if you want to study geosciences for money or to please someone or by default, please, DON'T STUDY GEOSCIENCES.
Never forget. GEOLOGY IS COOL !

Want to test yourself ? click here

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