MEGA STRUCTURES IN THE AMAZON

LUIS GABRIEL QUINA NEZ

CIVIL INGINEERING STUDENT

Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Amazonia
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INTRODUCTION Theworks performed by the man at the level of Engineering and Architecture, are trulyamazing, we seethat progressisgetting biggerand givesanswers togrowing needs Combinesengineeringknowledgeof the natural sciences, mathematics, experienceandpracticeto developnewwaysofusingmaterials,resourcesandnatural forcesinman's behalf. Basicallyengineeringistheartof applyingscientific knowledge tothe invention, developmentor useoftechnologyinall its determinations. This has beendonebyman's curiosityandthe abilitytoimprove andfindthesolution toallproblems thathavearound andmakefromfuturea realitythatbothareshownin themovies,andtheseshowsthatengineeringcanhaveagreatallyisthe natureandusemore and moreresourcesthat it offers, andalsoused inthe mannerthatcan notdestroy thesemegastructures,bothfor thesake ofthestructures, peopleand obviouslythe credibilityofengineering andthe greatfuture thatis imagined. This work shows one of the greatest dreams realized by modern engineering, such as the world's tallest skyscrapers, artificial beaches, airports ultramodern futuristic buildings, things that in the nineteenth century were only dreamed and made real only in movies science fiction and that today it can be enjoyed live and direct, which suggests a more magnificentfuturewiththebesttechnologyforbanquehumanproblemsarebecominglessandgi vesindications thatthisfutureiscloser thanyou think. Whileitshouldbenoted thatnotonlyhadgoodreceptionbuthas alsohadnegative aspectssuch asdeforestationof the planet, and therefore theyalso generatenegative environmentalimpactsto be checkedeverytimeyou think abouta newprojectpayslittleattention tonatureasonlythink of thebenefitsthat bringsthistotheprogressofsocietyandman. IntheAmazonhas also beendesignedfor large projects, veryambitiouswhichhave investedlargesumsofmoney,whenthe proposalis only adream, whichwill bring torealitycan not be exploitedtobuild itwas proposedfromabeginningbecauseofgreedand littleknowledgeabout the place,builtwith only onepurposeandnotgiventime tothink aboutwhat is causingthe environment, and not for whattheatmospherewould causein theproject.

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RATIONALE ThisworkismadetotheNationaluniversity community, learn aboutthegreatmegastructureshave beenbuiltin theworld,andleadingworkof manyyears,anda technological advanceover several decades, andthere is stillmanythatarejustonprojectsthataremotivatedtostudymore andmoreandrealizethat they canservewell for the future, since they lackmany things todointheseengineerscaninterveneas welltoobservewhatthatexist incountrieslikeChina, USA, Dubaietc. Andimaginewhattheycan createin a countrylikeColombia, as thistechnologyhas notyetcometo thiscountryandhas notdoneanythinghugein comparisontothese countries. Notonlythinking aboutbuildingbuthave a double-handed approach totheAmazonthatisa worthyrepresentationof nature, helping tocare for it,hold itand respect it. Alsowe will playsongs that showpoorlyorganizedprojects, not itsstructurebut because ittookintoaccounttheneed andavailabilitythatAmazonhasfor theseprojects, bringingindigenous displacementanddeforestationamong many others.

OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to show the good and bad of the progress of mega structures in the Colombian Amazon, the impact is and how it can develop engineering from the environmental point of view, without harming the indigenous flora and fauna and this land is in the Amazon.
SPECIFICOBJECTIVES

Show the impact of mega development in the Amazon. Identify entities that are on par with the mega projects in the Amazon rain forest. View engineered to not cause consequences in the Amazon. Identify what the real objective of the mega projects and megas-structures in the Amazon.

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MEGA STRUCTURES IN THE AMAZON

The mega structures are architectural structures that exceed conventional and normal
limits; transforming their environment in a unique way. They are works of architecture conducted either in ancient or modern engineered product that innovate and face the challenges of their time making the impossible and leaving an imprint that will last forever in the history of mankind. It achieved to be named as one of the architectural wonders. The works performed by the man at Engineering and Architecture level, are truly amazing, we see that progress is getting bigger and give answers to growing needs. All this knowledge now wants to implement in a region called Amazon, to know that social, environmental and economic results in a mega-structure in the Amazon must begin with a more or less special location of reality. The Amazon has an area of more than 7,000,000 of tropical rain forest that surround the main waterway of South America the Amazon River with its tributaries, is one of the most biodiverse regions as mentioned

sheltering on its territory an impressive variety of species that makes it worthy of the title of largest reserve of biodiversity on the planet... (Tapia Morales pp2 )
It is a unique region in the world with a wealth of water that exceeds expectations, with the Amazon River that marks the largest hydrographic region of the planet. Sociobiogeographic space that goes from the estuary or Marajo Island archipelago in the Atlantic sea level in the State of Para in Brazil, to the perpetual snows of the Andes in Peru, resulting in different niches from the heterogeneity of microclimates hence its expertise and endemic flora and fauna. On a cultural level the Amazon has 370 indigenous peoples 1,600,000 people who share 24 language groups. The creation of a mega structure and development of a mega project in the Amazon is a great "adventure", a great adventure in quotes because it only brings consequences the development of new technologies and structural progress with the development of man to satisfy their needs is one of the main challenges it faces, when we talk about the development of a mega project in the Amazon and the creation of a mega structure that facilitates the work of man and to communicate and exploit the Amazon is really a sensitive issue that involves indigenous communities, settlers and farmers in the region . Not only can think of that development is development for all because the consequences fall where they live and live in the region, from the smallest plant to humans. One example of development in the Amazon is the project of regional integration initiative South American (IIRSA) where one of his goals is to communicate in remote regions in the Amazon with the major centers of production and consumption through structures that Pgina 4

facilitate development of isolated regions, but we talk about this development is development that is truly unilateral, bringing development to a few consequences to many. TheintegrationofSouth AmericanInfrastructure(IIRSA) is thesummary ofthatdecisionthatproject, and specifytheEtndrive, carriedout throughelectricalinterconnectionmegaprojects, energy,biofuelsand othermonocultures, communications, each operationalizedthemfromthehugebuildingroads, airports, seaports and river, do not repairthosethatinhabiteach oftheareas involvedintheprojectsimplemented. Inmanycasesthe environmental impactsarenotquantifiedinthestudiesconductedtocostlyprojects. These impactsare reflectedmostlyinmassivedeforestation, which is oftenhigher thanexpectedinapproved studies.Takingasanexample ofdirect impactwe canmention the caseofthe Pan American highwayin Peru,wherea construction companydisposedovertheNazcalinesofthewaste material. IntheAmazonas it passesthroughone of themost important biodiversityreservesin the world. In the Amazon have been great structures that lead to major deforestation not only affects the forest or the environment but also the indigenous communities are those that are threatened by these mega-structures. To take a simple example and show that the consequences of these projects are not quantified or moderate we can see the interoceanic highway project, the road he wants to do is to satisfy a supposed need to connect the Pacific with the Atlantic by Peru and Brazil is road so far is very little traffic, has not been fully utilized. This genre was so massive deforestation. Inter-Oceanic Highway and has a flight path, which is being deployed to the paving of UrcosInambari (300 kilometers) of Inambari to Azngaro (306 km), and Inambari to Inapari (403 km). This last section is located entirely in the Mother of God, which has generated more discussion on the socio-environmental aspect. Although far Azngaro to Inambari is quite controversial because it passes through San Gaban, in the high jungle of Puno, a current expansion in coca...( Rocha revistaRumbos) Conservationists are concerned because large parts of protected areas can be cleared. First of all, contains one of the largest reserves of water and the improvement of the road amend the water quality of aquifers, over 50% of its territory is forest and the process of laying asphalt increases local temperature, it can cause fires forest and the disappearance of species belonging to the area. In the Brazilian Amazon mega structures are not only dreams but already a reality, as we see the IIRSA promotes the generation of energy so that Brazil was determined to use one of the largest watersheds in the world to generate this energy without looking the consequences that would bring to the Indians who inhabit this region. The creation of a dam involves the flooding of many hectares of Amazon rainforest, home to several indigenous communities and a finite range of fauna. These dams generate enough energy for the country, but end justifies the Amazon and its biodiversity?This does Pgina 5

not justify anything more though there may be many exits that could be called development, but this is not unilateral but rather pro-both sides and also the environment. In the next picture we see the points of the Brazilian Amazon where there are currently dams.

http://www.unmundoparatodos.org/2010/08/20/lanzan-mapa-interactivo-sobrefcrepresas-y-su-amenaza-en-la-amazonia/ One of themost controversialdamskind in the countryof Brazilisbeing builton the Xingu River, which is the largest tributaryof the Amazon,the damunder the name ofBelo Monteis scheduled tobe one of the3 largestthe world.This riveris home to600 species of fishin whichthere are severalthat do not existanywhere else in theworld. With the Brazilian oceanic and dams was demonstrated an obsolete but what you see may be an environmental impact assessment (EIA), which only includes measures proposed and the short term. These projects and mega structures of this magnitude must be implemented the concept of Strategic Assessment, which considers the cumulative impacts over time and based on that determined a rational land use.

Remember that the Amazon forest reserves is comprised of the following limits: From Santa Rosa de Sucumbos, on the border with Ecuador, heading northwest, to the highest peak in the Picos de la Fragua, thence on a line, 20 miles west of the Cordillera Oriental to the top of the Oseran, thence in a straight line, on the shortest distance, Ariari river, and east to its confluence with the river Guaviare guayabera, which is followed by downstream to its confluence with the Orinoco, then follows the border with Venezuela and Brazil, until you find the Amazon River, along the southern border, to the point of departure.
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Once we locate ourselves in space and we put it in context we see that a megastructure is preceded by a mega-project, a more precise definition of a megaproject is the development of a megastructure as this is preprogrammed by individuals who come together and take out a proposal and this in turn is accepted by the people who inhabit the place where it is to develop this project, and for a megastructure. However, we can see this through regular in our country is a bit violated, it is not common to hear the opinion of that is directly involved.

The Indians of the Amazon trapezoid are being controlled by the development of the West, a development that shows a physical image and sell that is unlike anything known in the traditional world. When we speak of a megastructure on a road within the Amazon, a power line that generates a certain amount of volts to several regions, but have we thought that this brings consequences? And is it fair to call knowingly and consider developing a megastructure raised on paper without actually seeing their prejudices for many and not the profit for the few?, These questions are resolved spatial locations and physically to the area directly affected, the Amazon, this happens because in Colombia and the Amazon region countries have not assumed that development is not concrete, much less destroy, the contrary can build a progressive and corrosive to the region called Amazon and balance vital for the planet, whereas in of those affected is the Amazon River who generates 20% of fresh water for the planet.

The "great" South American regional integration project called IIRSA project is based thinking and with countries so to speak "more developed" is not a project that meets the needs of our country and yet the Amazon region but belong to the countries categorized as developed, this project is scheduled for a future, but for infrastructure development is not known whether it will be useful to communities, settlers and farmers who inhabit the Amazon region.

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CONCLUSIONS The Colombian Amazon has been cared for in some part by creating nature reserves and Indian reservations, but even so-called globalization and development has been sold generating megastructures involving creating collateral damage and irreversible nature that inhabits this place has been discussed development for some is beneficial, but what about the people who inhabit these regions?, what about the Indian tradition?, what about truly sustainable society that Indians have created in their communities?, in Amazon can be no true development which in turn would bring a more clear and precise vision for people who are directly affected and we can make people see a new way to build megastructures that create real impact in favor of community living the region.

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REFERENCES:
CARMENSUSANA TAPIA MORALES in his bookAMAZONAS: DESARROLLO O CONSERVACIN?

http://www.upme.gov.co/guia_ambiental/carbon/areas/reservas/indice.htm#7. ZONA DE RESERVA FORESTAL DE LA AMAZONIA (fc 2011-10-02)

http://www.clubregatas.org.pe/revista/200511/interoceanica.htm ( lvaro. Rocha fc 2011-09-23)

http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2009/04/08/v-fullstory/423172/polemica-por-gran-represaen-la.html (ActualudadAmbiental.pe fc 2011-09-23) WEB RESOURCES:

http://recuperaragua.blogspot.com/2011/03/el-agua-del-amazonia-recurso.html http://www.todacolombia.com/etnias/gruposindigenas/amazonia.html

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