At the core of innovation is seeing into the future. This means pushing the limits of what we have and preparing for future problems. For some, the prospect of overpopulation seems too distant, though it is a reality that some countries face. However, we have small-scale versions of what it could be like and how we can deal with it. Singapore, the third most densely populated country with 8,123 inhabitants per km², is the perfect example. Despite its size, the country has a solution known as land reclamation.
Singapore is the smallest country in Asia, yet it has gradually increased its surface area in recent decades through land reclamation. Since gaining its independence in 1965, the small island nation off the southern tip of Malaysia has grown from 224 to 277 sq. miles. pic.twitter.com/Mk0dvZgeGM
— Daily Overview (@DOverview) February 26, 2024
Expanding Singapore
The term “reclaim” can cause confusion. It inherently means getting back something, but in the case of land reclamation, it means expanding. Historically, the term is described as rebuilding areas rendered unusable by natural disasters. Eventually, the term “natural rehabilitation” took that role as land reclamation began to be used to describe expanding into the sea by dredging the coast, enclosing the area, filling it up to the point that assures there won’t be flooding, and finally compacting it to ensure stability.
Singapore Land Reclamation was born by necessity. The island was not only small but full of uninhabitable swamps. Early reclaim projects filled these swamps and made them inhabitable. As the economy (and population) grew, Singapore shifted its focus to the coastline.
The World's political borders drawn to include Territorial Waters
Source: http://t.co/rthLYURjet
– pic.twitter.com/h1FgZXVIAO— Amazing Maps (@Amazing_Maps) June 9, 2014
We associate countries with their land borders. However, non-landlocked countries have a recognized claim on the sea. There can be limited control even over 200 nautical miles away, but any zone under 12 nautical miles (~22km) or a median, in case there is a close neighboring country, is totally under control, even up to expansions. In the case of Singapore, that means that they can “extend” their land by adding materials such as soil or cement within their limits in the sea.
Engineering and evolving tech
The technical process of land reclamation in Singapore has evolved. Initially, soil from razed hills was used to fill low-lying areas, but as the demand for land increased, large-scale projects began using imported sand. Reclamation involves dredging sand from the seabed and depositing it in designated areas, followed by compaction and stabilization to create a solid foundation. This method has allowed Singapore to expand its land area significantly, supporting urban development and industrial growth. However, environmental concerns have prompted the exploration of alternative methods like polders to mitigate ecological impacts.
Impact
Today, Singapore is an advanced city-state that houses many innovators. Over 25% of its total area is former sea. What was once inhabitable only to sea life is now filled with urban areas. Iconic places like Marina Bay, Changi Airport, and Jurong Island (formerly several smaller islands) wouldn’t have the space to exist. Yet there is significant disruption in the marine ecosystem and removal of resources that keep it thriving. Additionally, the main material for these kinds of reclaims is sand, which we are already extracting at a rate faster than natural renewal. In this form, it wouldn’t work applied globally.
I still think it’s a positive Singapore highlighted these issues so we can plan forward and find a better way to reclaim. If the future is approaching fast, our innovations need to be even faster. Singapore is already trying to do so and has recently accounted for over half the fill for the TPP1 project with recyclable materials, so there is hope.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been made by TTstudio. The photo in the body of the article has been taken by Fazon1.
Source: World Population Review / Alberta Environment / Nature / Wikipedia
