Not a level-playing field?
Stories from Physics
for 11-14
14-16
Countries base their measurements of elevation above sea level on different reference locations, as shown in the table below:
| Country | Reference Location |
|---|---|
| Austria | Trieste |
| France | Marseille |
| Germany | Amsterdam |
| Great Britain | Newlyn |
| Italy | Genoa |
| Switzerland | Marseille |
The use of different sea level reference locations caused a problem during the construction of the Hochrheinbrücke bridge between Switzerland and Germany in 2003 and 2004. The German engineers based their measurements on sea level in the North Sea, while the Swiss used a standard set to the level of the Mediterranean, a difference of 27 cm. While the engineers were aware of the difference in standards, at some point an error led to the correction being applied twice, leading to a height difference of 54 cm. It is reported that the engineering company’s insurance covered the additional costs incurred because of the error.
References
J. Stohner, & M. Quack, Education About the Use of Quantities, Units and Symbols in Chemistry: The Earlier the Better, In M. Gupta-Bhowon, S. Jhaumeer-Laulloo, H. Li Kam Wah, P. Ramasami (Eds.) Chemistry Education in the ICT Age, Dordrecht, Springer Science+Business Media, 2009, 339- 344, p. 340