2001-05-14 - Pallet Barrier saves school in France
Geodesign did a demo of the Pallet Barrier in northern France between the 8th and 10th of May, 2001. The demo was requested by the French military and the rescue services in the area around river Somme, east of Abbeville. The Somme has been flooded since the end of March due to high ground water table and unusually heavy rain during autumn and spring. Around 3400 homes and 500 farms are already flooded and authorities are looking for ways of saving buildings and property. The first building to be saved from the water was the school in the village Mareuil-Caubert. 150 metres of Pallet Barrier were erected in the water around the school and the fire brigade used pumps to make the area dry. Once again the Pallet Barrier proved to be effective even when water has already flooded an area
2001-03-15 - Pallet Barrier honoured the 2001 NOVA Award
A sellout filled Laurel Manor in Livonia on March 15 to honour five construction innovations during internationally renowned 12th annual NOVA Awards. Organized by the Construction Innovation Forum (CIF), the event drew construction industry representatives from around the world, including project owners, contractors, labor leaders, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers. The 2001 NOVA Awards honoured the developers of a side-grip sheet pile driver, a laser scanner that develops 3D data profiles on "as built" structures, a pothole patching truck, a flood fighting system that uses steel supports and common shipping pallets, and a special effluent tunnel ventilation system. Presenting the awards were CIF Chairman Roger Lane, from DTE Energy, Detroit, and CIF Vice Chairman Robert I. Carr, Ph.D., P.E., from the University of Michigan. ... Presentation of the 2001 NOVA Awards were made in honour of the following: ... Pallet Barrier Flood Fighting, developed by Sten-Magnus Kullberg of Geodesign AB, Sweden. The Pallet Barrier uses a system of folding steel supports that can hold from one to two sets (stacked vertically) of conventional wood pallets. The pallets are inclined against the supports and can be stacked to form a wall up to 6 ft. tall. A plastic liner is wrapped over the pallets. The system can form a line in any direction and follow ground contours vertically and horizontally. Erection is said to be almost 50 times quicker than sandbagging. One person can assemble 650-1,000 ft. of the system in a day. The system is being used for flood protection in Sweden, Holland, and Germany. ...
2000-11-16 - Aqua Barrier Saves Senior citizens
The residents of a retirement home in Arvika, western Sweden, were gratefully spared the trauma of evacuation as the surrounding area was effectively sealed of by Aqua Barrier on Tuesday 14th of November 2000. The barrier was erected in short time by a crew of 20 untrained volunteers from A9 Kristinehamn army regiment. On Wednesday 15th, the water fended off by Aqua Barrier peaked at 75 centimeter above street level. On Wednesday night decided the Emergeny Agency in Arvika to erect another 700 metal supports. They were delivered on Thursday around noon. The army och volunteers are working with erecting the 900 meter barrier. The rain is predicted to continue.
2000-08-31 - Aqua Barrier in action in New North Sweden Flood
Heavy rains in Norhtern Sweden during July, caused serious flooding. Hundreds of houses were flooded. Most houses could not be rescued due to lack of time. The military forces used sandbags. Two communities, Bollnäs and Ovanåker, make their first experience with Aqua Barrier. Three houses were saved by the barrier. A 40 meter long barrier in front of a summer residence was erected in about two hours by four people. It was the standard pallet support for up to 1 meter dam. The rescue service was very satisfied with the system.
2000-07-27 - Aqua Barrier fight flood in North Sweden
Heavy rains in Norhtern Sweden during July, caused serious flooding. Hundreds of houses were flooded. Most houses could not be rescued due to lack of time. The military forces used sandbags. Two communities, Bollnäs and Ovanåker, make their first experience with Aqua Barrier. Three houses were saved by the barrier. A 40 meter long barrier in front of a summer residence was erected in about two hours by four people. It was the standard pallet support for up to 1 meter dam. The rescue service was very satisfied with the system.
2000-06-06 - Awards at INPEX 16th in Pittsburgh, USA
The 16th INPEX Invention Exhibition granted the inventor Sten-Magnus Kullberg and Aqua Barrier a bronze medal in class "Environmental". The "Pallet Barrier" were also granted by the business innovation network of Slovenia "SPIM" and by foundation "HYDRONIC". The Russian delegation awarded a gold medal for the invention. This was the first time this technology was presented too US public.
2000-04-14 - Grand Prix to Aqua Barrier, the Pallet Barrier
The Grand Prix of the 28th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva was awarded today by Mr Jean-Luc Vincent, President of the Exhibition, to the Swedish company Geodesign AB, for "Aqua Barrier", an ingenious palett system designed to stop floods. Developed by Sten-Magnus Kullberg, a civil engineer specialising in problems specifically linked to water. The International jury awarded the highest distinction of the Exhibition to this invention, with its warmest congratulations. Up to 35 other inventions among the thousand exhibited in Geneva, were rewarded during the cermony which was host to many representatives of the authorities. Mr Kullberg was also awarded by the Russian delegation with a special prize.
2000-01-06 - Flood threat over for this time in Cologne
The Aqua Barrier was dismantled during the 5th of January after the flood had gone. It was culminating on 7.91 meter Kölner Pegel. The water level rose only some centimeters on the barrier along Uferstrasse in Cologne/Germany.
1999-12-27 - Flooding in Rodenkirchen/Cologne
The Aqua Barrier was erected during this evening at Uferstrasse. Kölnerpegel showed 7.03 meter and increased by 6-7 cm/hour. The forecast is KP (Kölnerpegel) around 8 meter until Wednesday.
1999-06-24 - Aqua Barrier floodfighting Konstanz
Since June 9th 1999, Aqua Barrier protects property close to Boden-See. A 400 meter Aqua Barrier was erected in 30 cm high water with success. The water level has remain very high the past two weeks, but it is now slowely starting to decrease. The water reaches 60 cm on the barrier now.
1999-02-28 - Flood Fight in Cologne - Aqua Barrier in action
During February 23rd to 27th, the suburb Rodenkirchen in Cologne (2km south Old Town) wasprotected against flooding with Aqua Barrier Flood Fighting System. An installation of 500 meter was done in 5 hours, along the Ufer-street in Rodenkirchen. For about three days the water was high up on the barrier. So far, it is the longest installation ever done with Aqua Barrier.
1999-02-28 - No water on the barrier
In the morning of February 27th, there was no longer any water on the barrier. The levels in River Rhein continued to decrease and was Sunday morning 7.26 meter, that is 1.62 meter below Wednesday´s recorded top level at 8.88 meter. Now the barrier will be dismounted.
1999-02-26 - Decreasing Water Level in Cologne
The water level in Cologne, at Kölnerpegel is decreasing since Thursday. Maximum level was 8.88 meter, 1 cm above the highest point at Aqua Barrier. Stadt Cologne built an extra sandbarrier on 50 meter lenth of the total 500 meter Aqua Barrier installation. By this, the protection level was 10-20 cm higher than before at lowest point of Aqua Barrier.The weather has been dry and people in Rodenkrischen/Cologne is now released. They have been protected and there is no damage to the houses in this area of town. Cologne Water Level 25/2 05.30: 8.87 meter (1 cm below Aqua Barriers highest point) Cologne Water Level 26/2 05.30: 8.43 meter (44 cm below Aqua Barriers highest point)
1999-02-24 - Cologne Flood Fight
This morning the 500 meter aqua Barrier were having about 70 cm of water on the front. It protects a part of the city. The leakage is small and can be handled by a pump.The weather forecast is colder which probably will calm the river rising. We plan to visit the city tomorrow, for documentation and learning