Significant technological advances were achieved in the 20th century, but there were also many unresolved problems relating to management principles, such as decentralisation of processes, durability of water projects, cost effectiveness and sustainability issues such as protection from floods and droughts. In the developing world, the problems were intensified to an unprecedented degree. Intensification of unresolved problems led societies to revisit the past and reinvestigate successful past achievements. Those who attempted this retrospect, based on archaeological, historical and technical evidence, were impressed by the similarity of principles with present ones and the high level of water engineering and management practices in ancient times (Angelakis et al., 2005; Koutsoyuannis et al., 2008; Mays, 2008, 2010). Principles and practices in water management of ancient civilisations are not as well known as other achievements (poetry, philosophy, science, politics and visual arts). A lot can be learned from ancient technologies and practices, so the Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater in Ancient Civilizations focuses on the development of water technologies through the centuries all over the world. The relevance of ancient works is examined in terms of evolution of technology, homeland security and management principles. With the increasing worldwide awareness of the importance of water resources management in ancient civilisations, the IWA Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater in Ancient Civilizations was established in 2005 and, so far, seven IWA International and Regional Symposia and Workshop on Water and Wastewater Technologies in Ancient Civilizations have been organized in several places of the world. Within the coming three one International and one Regional Symposia and one Workshop are planned.
Topics and Challenges on Water History
DE FEO, Giovanni;
2016-01-01
Abstract
Significant technological advances were achieved in the 20th century, but there were also many unresolved problems relating to management principles, such as decentralisation of processes, durability of water projects, cost effectiveness and sustainability issues such as protection from floods and droughts. In the developing world, the problems were intensified to an unprecedented degree. Intensification of unresolved problems led societies to revisit the past and reinvestigate successful past achievements. Those who attempted this retrospect, based on archaeological, historical and technical evidence, were impressed by the similarity of principles with present ones and the high level of water engineering and management practices in ancient times (Angelakis et al., 2005; Koutsoyuannis et al., 2008; Mays, 2008, 2010). Principles and practices in water management of ancient civilisations are not as well known as other achievements (poetry, philosophy, science, politics and visual arts). A lot can be learned from ancient technologies and practices, so the Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater in Ancient Civilizations focuses on the development of water technologies through the centuries all over the world. The relevance of ancient works is examined in terms of evolution of technology, homeland security and management principles. With the increasing worldwide awareness of the importance of water resources management in ancient civilisations, the IWA Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater in Ancient Civilizations was established in 2005 and, so far, seven IWA International and Regional Symposia and Workshop on Water and Wastewater Technologies in Ancient Civilizations have been organized in several places of the world. Within the coming three one International and one Regional Symposia and one Workshop are planned.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
