Japanese Island Genesis Methodology: From Reclamation to Urban Development

[Aepsilons]

Japan has a long history of developing and construction islands throughout the Archipelago, ranging from islands close to the mainland chain and those that are in the periphery of the Japanese Archipelago. This thread will be dedicated to disseminating knowledge on the various man made islands of Japan, and their eventual urbanization. Please join me.

1. Land Reclamation
2. Business Development
3. Educational Development
4. Community Development
5. Transportation Development
6. Health and Medical Services Development
7. International Linkage

 

[Armstrong]

All I see is one giant sized island; where are the man-made islands ?

 

[Aepsilons]

1. Rokko Island City


is the second major artificial island in Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Japan located in the southeast region at Port of Kobe . The island was constructed from reclaimed land between 1973 and 1992. It has a 3.4 km by 2 km rectangular shape, and covers 5.80 km². The island was one of the hardest hit areas in Kobe during the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Rokkō Island contains hotels, sports and conventions facilities, markets, a water amusement park, sea view apartment buildings, the Kobe Fashion Museum, an international school (Canadian Academy), container yards, wharves, and port facilities. The Rokko Liner connects the island to JR Sumiyoshi Station , stopping at several points along the way

Rokko Island City (RIC ) is a Master- planned community located in the central urban function zone of Rokko Island. Kobe City developed RIC to meet a comprehensive range of urban needs of internationalization, an information- based society and aging society which expected to arise in the next century.
There are housings, schools, hospitals and hotels to provide general functions for living, working, recreation and study.
Kobe has proposed an urban resort as a new concept in city planning and city was developed by government hand in hand with private sectors to bring all the comforts and convenience to this community.

RIC is truly a unique city with numerous amenities and attractions surrounded by the beautiful setting of mountains and ocean.Rokko Liner, new transportation system and various bus services to provide convenience out to the island and between the neighboring areas.There are extensive recreation amenities with bike paths, jogging and walking trails, tennis courts and soccer fields for whole family.The attractions include various restaurants, retailers,’ hotels, movie theatres and museums on the picturesque River Malls.

The community also has two international schools along with several Japanese schools and college campuses. The cosmopolitan and intellectual atmosphere attracts many foreigners from all over the world who enjoy living in RIC.

RIC offers modern urban environment in harmony with nature, offering ideal response to human needs.
Today, the community maintains this original concept and uniqueness to provide comforts and enjoyments for all the residents and the visitors.

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Downtown Rokko Island City

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[Aepsilons]

Rokko Island City

 

[Aepsilons]

2. Kansai Island




The designers envisioned an airport 2.5 miles long and 4000 feet wide. The site selected was three miles from land and there the water depth was 60 feet. The water depth was not a serious impediment. The problem was the condition of the soil under the water. Soil immediately under the water was a soft clay called alluvial clay. This alluvial clay went down 100 meters. Japanese engineers had solved the problem of building in this soil. They would drive down pipes which would be then packed with sand. The pipes would then be pulled up leaving columns of sand in place to absorb the moisture in the alluvial clay. The uncertainty for the construction came from the layer of clay lying below the alluvial clay. This clay was called dialluvial clay and extended about one thousand feet down. The compressibility of this clay was uncertain and because of its depth nothing could be done to modify that compressibility.

The airport authorities had a number of experts estimate how much the airport island would sink as a result of the weight of its weight. The estimates ranged from 19 feet to 25 feet.

The official looked at the estimates of the degree of sinking and did what now seems to have been the worse possible thing. They accepted the smallest estimate, 19 feet, in what appears to have been wishful thinking. The design of the airport was then based upon a sinking of 19 feet.

The construction started in 1987. The alluvial clay was stabilized with sand columns as described above. The perimeter of the island was defined by means of 69 steel chambers which were sunk to the bay floor. These chambers were 75 feet in height and 75 feet in diameter. They weighed 200 tons each. The spaces between the chambers were filled with 48,000 specially shaped concrete blocks. Irregular stones weighing one to two tons were added to the walls.

The cavity within the walls was filled with rocks and coarse gravel to avoid the danger of liquification of earth-fill during an earthquake. The fill came two mountains which were leveled in the process.

The radicals, not to be denied their opportunity to commit violence, attached the quarries where the fill material for the island was being escavated. Altogether there were about two dozen attacks.

The island airport had to be linked to the land. That part of the project was started in 1987 and by March of 1990 the bridge link was completed, at a cost of $1 billion. The trussed bridge framework carried a railway on its lower level and a motor vehicle highway of the upper level.

By 1990 the island and its link to the land had been completed. Ten thousand people had worked on the project. The trouble was that the airport island was sinking more than the design provided for. The maximum estimate was 25 feet. The airport authorities took the minimum estimate of 19 feet.

The authorities added another 11.5 feet of fill at a cost of $150 million.

@mike2000 is back ---- this is Japanese Engineering.

 

[Aepsilons]

3. Odaiba Island




Odaiba (お台場) is a large man made island in Tokyo Bay . It was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1850s, dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district, and has developed since the 1990s as a major commercial, residential and leisure area. Odaiba, along with Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama, are two of the only places in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area where the seashore is accessible, and not blocked by industry and harbor areas.

 

[Aepsilons]

4. Minato Mirai 21






Minato Mirai 21 Area is a new town created where Yokohama Exotic Showcase was held in 1989. Minato Mirai 21 Area is the town of future full of modern high-rise buildings. The most famous ones of all are the Yokohama Landmark Tower and Queen's Square Yokohama. The Landmark Tower is a 296-meter-high, 70-floor building, which represents the city of Yokohama. You can have a magnificent view from its observatory floor (the 69th) Sky Garden.

Minato Mirai 21 Area is also a mega-shopping town, crowded with large shopping malls and amusement spots. The gorgeous night view of Minato Mirai 21 Area is a must-see. Yokohama Cosmoworld, with one of the world's largest Ferris wheels in the center, and high-rise buildings are illuminated, which gives an effect of the whole area floating in the night sky.

West of JR Sakuragicho Station, you can find Nogeyama Park, which has the Nogeyama Zoo, with about 1,500 animals of 90 species. Yokohama Nigiwai Za opened in 2002. It is a center specializing in Japanese entertainments such as 'rakugo' (comic monologue), 'manzai' (comic dialogue), and performance, and conveying the tradition of Yokohama, in which a number of theaters and playhouses were crowded with their fans, to today's guests.

 

[Aepsilons]

5. Port Island





Port Island (ポートアイランド Pōto Airando) is an artificial island in Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. It was constructed between 1966 and 1981 at Port of Kobe , and officially opened with an exposition called "Portopia '81." It now houses a heliport , numerous hotels , a large convention center , the UCC Coffee Museum , Japan's 3rd IKEA store, and several parks.

The Port Liner automated guided transit system connects Port Island to Sannomiya Station and to Kobe Airport .

The Port Island F.G. Group experience takes place in the Kobe University International Residence on the island.

 

[Ryuzaki]

interesting,i thought only China and Dubai reclaimed land on a large scale

 

[Aepsilons]

interesting,i thought only China and Dubai reclaimed land on a large scale

We've been creating islands since the early 1960s, my friend. Most modern civil engineering techniques and foundation development regarding island genesis and land reclamation are written by Japanese expertise and experience. Which would then be copied in Europe and the rest of the West.


Japan did land reclamation during WWII throughout the Pacific Islands.

 

[terranMarine]

interesting,i thought only China and Dubai reclaimed land on a large scale

First reclamation dates back to Han Dynasty

 

[terranMarine]

interesting thread already ruined by a Vietcong

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan does it on its own territory. China does artefact island on coral reefs were stolen with force from Vietnam in 1988.

Well that's true, i guess. Best to not build in contested areas. I can only imagine what would happen if Japan were to "develop" the Senkaku Shoto. But we don't because we know the geopolitical implications that would cause with both China and Taiwan. So it stays as is.

Because we Japanese value or relationship with China. China is our historical partner, and hopefully will remain so in the immediate to long term future.

 

[terranMarine]

Well that's true, i guess. Best to not build in contested areas. I can only imagine what would happen if Japan were to "develop" the Senkaku Shoto. But we don't because we know the geopolitical implications that would cause with both China and Taiwan. So it stays as is.

Because we Japanese value or relationship with China. China is our historical partner, and hopefully will remain so in the immediate to long term future.

In other words Japan won't meddle with SCS , you are hurting VN's feelings

 

[Aepsilons]

China does not do like that with small neighbours, because China's dream is expansion policy.

Not necessarily, my friend.