c. 1410-1475

Italian engineer and pioneer of canal-building. Novate built the Bereguardo Canal in Italy, completed in 1458, which was the first lateral canal (that is, paralleling a river) to use locks as a means of controlling its steep elevation changes. In 1470, Novate completed work on the Martesana Canal, which connected Milan with the River Trezzo and used only two locks over a distance of 24 miles (38.4 km). He is also credited with introducing the mitre gate, one in which the two gates meet at an angle. The latter is much more effective at resisting the stress placed on it, and makes it possible to build a wider canal lock.