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I'm well aware of the explanations that this project is infeasible and not based on logic. But it still seems to me that digging foundations across the entire f

I'm well aware of the explanations that this project is infeasible and not based on logic. But it still seems to me that digging foundations across the entire footprint is spreading development resources more thinly than a standard development would? Can someone better-versed in the economics of large development projects explain to me why this isn't being pursued in a more risk-reducing fashion, with a smaller section being built top-to-bottom to demonstrate its viability?

moistly 4y ago
A fractal design would be equally interesting (possibly more interesting) and much more efficient. I should think nature usually designs for efficiency. Leaf, fern, ant hill, watersheds might provide ideas.
justsomehnguy 4y ago
> in a more risk-reducing fashion, with a smaller section being built top-to-bottom to demonstrate its viability? My guess would be the time. If this would be built in 3-5 years, then with a demonstrator it would take 5 to 10 years to complete. Also - not enough (heh) money constraints.
BurningFrog 4y ago
The (literally) central part of the project is a railway running through the whole length. I'm no construction expert, but building the railway first so you can use it to ship material and workers seems like it could be good.
- jaclaz 4y ago
  Not only. I have no idea on what the project details are, but - generally speaking and if possible - building an open-cut tunnel (as opposed to bored) is much cheaper (like 1/3 of the cost) and much faster (also because the works are not sequential and can thus be carried on easily in multiple stretches at the same time, given enough equipment and workers ).
CydeWeys 4y ago
They're not remotely digging foundations across the entire footprint yet. This thing is (in theory at least) supposed to be 170 km long. The linked article says that only half of that length even has any construction activity on it yet.
mytailorisrich 4y ago
I don't think there are major technical issues. The issue is the scale, which requires a construction effort probably spanning decades. So if they really do start building it they'll likely start from one end and build it section by section until either it's complete or they give up. Even 1km out of the 170 will result in a very large building.

moistly 4y ago

A fractal design would be equally interesting (possibly more interesting) and much more efficient. I should think nature usually designs for efficiency. Leaf, fern, ant hill, watersheds might provide ideas.

justsomehnguy 4y ago

> in a more risk-reducing fashion, with a smaller section being built top-to-bottom to demonstrate its viability? My guess would be the time. If this would be built in 3-5 years, then with a demonstrator it would take 5 to 10 years to complete. Also - not enough (heh) money constraints.

BurningFrog 4y ago

The (literally) central part of the project is a railway running through the whole length. I'm no construction expert, but building the railway first so you can use it to ship material and workers seems like it could be good.

jaclaz 4y ago
Not only. I have no idea on what the project details are, but - generally speaking and if possible - building an open-cut tunnel (as opposed to bored) is much cheaper (like 1/3 of the cost) and much faster (also because the works are not sequential and can thus be carried on easily in multiple stretches at the same time, given enough equipment and workers ).

CydeWeys 4y ago

They're not remotely digging foundations across the entire footprint yet. This thing is (in theory at least) supposed to be 170 km long. The linked article says that only half of that length even has any construction activity on it yet.

mytailorisrich 4y ago

I don't think there are major technical issues. The issue is the scale, which requires a construction effort probably spanning decades. So if they really do start building it they'll likely start from one end and build it section by section until either it's complete or they give up. Even 1km out of the 170 will result in a very large building.