Vibrations of engines damage ancient relics
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-08 09:30

Whenever subways pass under the Forbidden City, trains roar alongside the Great Wall and jet aircraft fly over the Dunhuang Grottos, the ancient structures are shaken by vibrations from these engines of modern industrial civilization.

But china plans to set a national standard aiming to reduce this problem.

Chinese scientists have drafted a regulation to prevent unnecessary industrial harm to cultural relics.

It has already been submitted to legal authorities before the government adopts the regulation and backs it with administrative authority. Details were not disclosed.

"Earthquakes can cause great damage to relics, but recent studies show that vibrations brought about by trains, automobiles, mining and large machinery can also lead to serious deterioration," said Professor Pan Fulan, an expert in the field of environmental vibration and director of the standard-setting project.

Given that industrial vibrations are so commonplace, few scientists are dedicated to this worldwide problem.

Pan's group surveyed scores of historic sites over four years. The Dayan Pagoda (AD 652) in Xi'an, Liuhe Pagoda (AD 970) in Hangzhou, and the 1,300-year-old Jietai Temple in Beijing have been damaged by industrial vibrations.