Qanat

I first encountered this word reading Frank Herbert's Dune, so it was a bit odd when I encountered it in other literature. Later I realised one of the great things about Herbert's SF - he uses many real-world cultures as sources for his world building

There was an interesting problem about qanats and excavation cost minimization in the 2015 ICPC World Finals problem set.<p>(Problem H) <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;icpc.baylor.edu&#x2F;worldfinals&#x2F;problems&#x2F;icpc2015.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;icpc.baylor.edu&#x2F;worldfinals&#x2F;problems&#x2F;icpc2015.pdf</a>

The section about using qanats for cooling and ice storage by the Persians around 400 BCE [1] is fascinating.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Yakhchal" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Yakhchal</a>

Related technology: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Windcatcher" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Windcatcher</a>

Is there an etymological link between &quot;qanāt&quot; and &quot;canal&quot;?

As a sometimes Scrabble player, I was familiar with the word and I knew it was some kind of aqueduct. It&#x27;s nice to know more. Amazing that ancient people not only knew to make them, but that they could pull it off. This must have been no small engineering feat.

Such (ancient) technologies plus state-of-the-art computing and communication systems is prime material for science fiction novels about highly advanced civilizations.<p>I think we should strive towards that - use the wisdom of our ancestors to build zero-energy systems, powered by naturally occurring energy, controlled and enhanced by computers.<p>There are lots and lots of things that have already been invented in the past, we should just listen to our grand grandparents a bit closer.. After all, they built them for future generations, including us..

My first thought is: can I make something like this work in Dwarf Fortress?

Its funny to see this on HN! I was born and grown up in a warm area in Iran full of qanats and to me it seems such a natural thing. I caught my first fish from a qanat!

The Arabic countries led by the Muslims were the most advanced scientists&#x2F;engineers in the world, until they let the religious crazies take over. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Timeline_of_science_and_engineering_in_the_Islamic_world" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Timeline_of_science_and_engine...</a>

There is also this video about Qanats in Iran: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.facebook.com&#x2F;32848633159&#x2F;videos&#x2F;10153511165878160" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.facebook.com&#x2F;32848633159&#x2F;videos&#x2F;1015351116587816...</a><p>Sorry for the fb link, could not find it in YouTube

You might also want to learn about <i>Karez</i> that is used in Balochistan, Pakistan.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=lhpjbi93Jzg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=lhpjbi93Jzg</a>

My first thought (even though it&#x27;s a bit of an overused meme) is that these look exactly like the holes in Japanese horror manga master Junji Ito&#x27;s &#x2F;The Enigma of Amigara Fault&#x2F; (don&#x27;t look that up if you&#x27;re claustrophobic or not cool with body horror).

Another article:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.aramcoworld.com&#x2F;issue&#x2F;201405&#x2F;the.water.below.htm" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.aramcoworld.com&#x2F;issue&#x2F;201405&#x2F;the.water.below....</a>

Even better Scrabble-Word: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Qat" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Qat</a>

I saw lots of these in Morocco, between the mountains and the Sahara.<p>Well, what I saw were the regularly spaced mounds of earth at the top of the access shafts.

I am trying to do pilot. Any good I can prefer?

We have them in Azerbaijan too.

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I&#x27;ve watched a movie where they even have those in Palermo (Italy).