Mexico City is Sinking
b'
With over 21.6 million people, the infrastructure of Mexico City faces a daily strain that is both immense and unique. And while we\\u2019ve covered some of the challenges this creates, including the recent and devastating collapse of a metro train overpass, a report on Wired.com adds a unique problem to the mix.
Using radar-based ground measurement tools that can go up to 100\\u2019 into the earth, geologists think areas of the world\\u2019s second largest city could sink as much as 100\\u2019 over the next 150 years.\\xa0
The phenomenon is called subsidence, and it could be a big problem for nearly half of Mexico City\\u2019s population.
Subsidence happens when too much groundwater is extracted, causing the land above it to compact, and sink. And if that\\u2019s not bad enough, the land doesn\\u2019t sink in a uniform manner, which creates a huge issue for roads, bridges, sewer pipes and other infrastructure running between two endpoints that could be sinking, or not sinking, by disparate amounts.
Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
'