My concentration is on river management in monsoon regions. This concentration developed partially because I decided to go abroad to Vietnam and because also because I was interested in how we interact with water and how these interactions change water systems.
So I went to Vietnam. Along with other research on waste management and environmental awareness, I did research on development and flooding.
Looking at development and flooding in Ho Chi Minh City was super fascinating. This of course ties into my concentration considering the effects of the monsoon and the extensive system of canals and rivers in the Mekong Delta.
I looked at these historic and current aerials of the regions, paying close attention to what was happening development wise and water wise. You can look through these images with the slider below.
Ho Chi Minh City was an extremely relevant place to look at these water issues because the city is one of the top ten economic areas at risk of flooding in the world. The city also is one of the fastest growing and expanding cities as well. This doesn’t bode well considering added development on the low lying wetland only exacerbates flooding. And of course we know that with climate change and rising sea levels, flooding especially in coastal areas will get worse.
The flooding threats to Ho Chi Minh City are unique although many other cities face similar threats. Some countries have started implementing solutions, like the giant floodgates in Holland. This is an important time for interdisciplinary communication to develop infrastructure and policies that will mitigate flooding and the effects of climate change.
Awesome! It sounds like our foci have a lot in common I look forward to collaborating with you 🙂