1. We set up a fish tank with sand (Thank you Leonie & Chris for loaning it to us!)
2. We added some water to the sand. The sand absorbed the water & was hard enough to build on!
3. We built our city of buildings, cars, trucks, a crane & yes, even a Mr Whippy Ice Cream truck : )
4. When our city was complete, we then recreated an earthquake by shaking the tank from side to side
5. WOW! The water actually started rising to the top & even more water appeared after a few after shocks
6. We also noticed that the water continued to rise to the surface even while our city was in a resting state
We not only showcased how liquefaction works, but we also tested our theory & proved that housing developments built on land with a significant water base are indeed vulnerable to the devastating effects of liquefaction. We also talked about the collateral damage that that accompanies liquefaction - damage to water pipes, sewage systems, house flooding & ongoing water damage leading to unhealthy & unhygienic long term living conditions.
How is Christchurch coping with the effects of liquefaction, and what role does Environmental Planning play in terms of rebuilding for the future? These were just some of the questions that the children took away from this experiment, so we are asking an Environmental Planner to come in to talk to us. I will keep you posted!