42:272 PENT projects

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY PROJECTS BY STUDENTS : problems & solutions

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Forest Fires                  fire fighters need to be trained how to fight fire, for major fires

                                     people from other provinces should also come

Forest Fires                  People should be prepared ahead of time by storing food, having

                                     items ready to go, including “72-hour food kits”. Should also

                                     practice emergency evacuation

Forest Fires                  Remote sensing of fires has been used elsewhere and should also

                                     be implemented in Manitoba . Infrared sensors can spot a fire up to

                                     10 km away for quick response before it becomes a threat

Forest Fires                  satellite monitoring of fires is possible. A type of sprinkler

                                     system around a property or small community can be established

                                     if adequate supply of water is available nearby

   

Forest Fires                 Fire blocks should be established around communities and if a fire

                                   is approaching counter fires should be used. Since heat rises during

                                   a fire, an underground bunker for a community with a shortage of

                                   quick exits maybe useful to have

Forest Fires                In the boreal forest a fire is part of the natural cycle of destruction

                                   and renewal. There is Canadian Forest Fire Centre for fire

                                   management and Fire Research being carried out. Guidelines for

                                   fire prevention and fire safety have been prepared country-wide

   

Basement flooding     one needs to build on higher ground, the landscaping should

                                    slope away from the house & not towards it, the water has to drain

                                    far away from the house & foundation       

River flooding             there should be floodways around communities (that are close to

                                    rivers)  - besides existing ring dikes.

River Flooding            proposal for more permanent fortifications against rising waters

                                    than the existing ring dikes can provide. Actual walls, or “Curtain

                                    Barriers” anchored on concrete footings with metal pegs into the

                                    Ground. The “curtains” can be made of rubber and can be

                                    camouflaged to the landscape

 River flooding            For smaller rivers, the river channel can be widened in several

                                   dug- out sections bounded by a concrete wall along the existing

                                   river channel. These sections can accommodate the surplus water

                                   during a flood instead of spilling into nearby homes

Red River Flooding      Need an Action Plan for Floods with adequate supplies of sand

                                     bags, for instance. Availability of mini-icebreakers along the

                                     river would be very useful

   

Red River Flooding      Some kind of floodplain regulation would be ideal. For existing

                                    property owners, a ring dike should be made with soil from a

                                    trench. This trench should remain after the dike is made and would

                                    act like a floodway. It would accommodate some flood water. A

                                    causeway / bridge would be needed to access the property.

Lake Flooding              Building of roads in the Shield areas of the province is a

                                     Herculean challenge. The land is waterlogged with innumerable

                                     swamps, lakes & creeks, so dry land is patchy. Roads & old

                                     homes need frequent repairs with new, innovative techniques.

Tsunamis                      if one feels an earthquake, one should move away from the

                                     shore. If one happens to drift with the water, one needs to grab

                                     onto something and hold real tight

Tsunamis                      The existing technology is good ad should be taken seriously. The

                                      reaction of animals to earthquakes and tsunamis should be

                                      monitored and studied