Infrastructure

To minimize construction costs it is frequently an advantage to have a canal follow the local ground contour. This picture of the Canal du Midi close to Villesque shows the result of applying this technique. The alternative is to counter local contour changes by using dirt fill or masonry structures.

From: de Rosquette-Buisson, Sarramon and Lefebvre, "The Canal du Midi," Rivage, Marseille (1983)