Engineering Planning of Dike and Polder Airports

A dike and polder airport is one constructed on land reclaimed from the bed of a lake or the sea. The area reclaimed is known by the Dutch word polder; a dike completely encircles the polder, maintaining it in a dry condition. Engineering planning of such a structure is centered on four important considerations: (1)Stability of the dike; (2)protection against wave action; (3)constructability; and (4)cost. Stability is assured through a program of intensive foundation explorations and sliding-surface analyses of the dike slopes. Protection against wave action is provided by manmade or natural armor units, designed to resist storms that may be expected to occur in a very long period—often 1,000 yr or more. Constructability is achieved through the use of high-capacity dredges and other marine equipment and by taking full advantage of natural local materials for the bulk of the dike embankments.