Early Canals, The Evolution of the Technology

This latest paper follows on from our earlier papers discussing early canal projects (these can be downloaded from UK transport projects), looking at the evolution of the technology needed to build and operate canals.

Naturally occurring waterways, rivers, lakes, and the seas, have been used for movement and the transport of goods for tens of thousands of years. Water transport was easier, quicker, and safer than travelling over land. Over time improvements were made to these natural waterways to facilitate their use including the construction of harbours, wharfs, and improvements in the depth and alignment of suitable rivers (river navigations).  Canals are different, they are artificial waterways flowing in engineered channels, that were excavated for a purpose such as flood control, irrigation (drainage management), defence, and/or trade. In many situations, the waterway served several purposes as the commercial opportunities created by drainage canals were quickly exploited and the waterway improved to facilitate navigation by suitably designed boats.

The way of establishing a set of levels of relatively slow-moving water with an adequate depth was to build a series of relatively low dams across the canal or river, but this requires the creation of a place where boats could cross the dam or weir.

One of the earliest options was a flash lock or staunch lock. Then sometime later, the concept of a double slipway appears to have been developed in China to replace flash locks, reducing water usage and allow the passage of larger boats.

The next major improvement in design was the pound lock. This type of lock acts as a dam, and incorporates a chamber with gates at both ends that control the level of water in the pound. Pound locks were first used in China in 984 during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). This is the standard type of lock used on canals today.  The mitred canal gate was the next major development, replacing the earlier vertical lift gate used in pound locks. This type of gate may have been invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1487 for the San Marco canal in Milan.

Early Canals, The Evolution of the Technology traces the development of the technologies needed for the successful operation of canals from Roman times through to the start of the Industrial Revolution.

For more papers of the history of the origins of modern project management see: https://mosaicprojects.com.au/PMKI-ZSY-005.php