Great Engineering

Videos

The Famous Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse

The bridge became famous as the most dramatic failure in bridge engineering history. Now, it’s also one of the world’s largest man-made reefs. The event changed forever how engineers design suspension bridges. Gertie’s failure led to the safer suspension spans we use today.

Winds of inspiration

Allan Larsen, a bridge designer at the Danish consultancy firm COWI, talks about sailing, wind and new ideas.
[Submitted by Uzi Frank]

Home (Movie)

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth’s climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to [...]

China’s Ultimate Port – Megastructures

The Yangshan Deep Water Port (Hangzhou Bay, south of Shanghai) is located in the middle of the ocean, 30km from dry land. With 20km of quay and 50 berths, Yangshan is destined to become the biggest deep water port ever built.

Gate Towers – Abu Dhabi

The Gate Towers is designed to be built on one common denominator of all great structures…with its imposing architectural design, state of the art amenities and unrivalled location. The Gate Towers will provide an all new concept in urban lifestyle, a perfect combination of modern comfort and natural living.

Yas Island & Ferrari World – Abu Dhabi

Yas Island occupies a total land area of 2,500 hectares. The Island will feature attractions such as a world-class motor sports racetrack, signature hotels, the Ferrari theme park, water park, and the Abu Dhabi destination retail development of 300,000 sq m retail area, links and parkland golf courses, lagoon hotels, marinas, polo clubs, apartments, villas [...]

Wind Turbine Construction – Bristol Port

Stunning time-lapse video of the construction of 3 wind turbines at Bristol Port, England. The turbines produce over 15 million units of new green electricity annually, enough to save around 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year for the next 30 years!

The Persians – Engineering an Empire

The Persian Empire was one of the most mysterious civilizations in the ancient world. Persia became an empire under the Cyrus the Great, who created a policy of religious and cultural tolerance that became the hallmark of Persian rule. Engineering feats include an innovative system of water management; a cross-continent paved roadway stretching 1500 miles; [...]

The Aztecs – Engineering an Empire

In less than 200 years the Aztec’s transformed themselves from a band of wandering nomads to the greatest civilization the New World had ever known. What records remain of this amazing feat indicate they did it through brilliant military campaigns and by ingeniously applying technology to master the harsh environment they faced. They built their [...]

Panama’s Coastal Strip

A huge and very nice project under construction to bring Panama City to the 21st century.

Greece – Engineering an Empire

Western Civilization has been influenced by many cultures, but it was born in Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history. Philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates, Olympian gods, the beginnings of democracy and great conquering armies can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks. This strong and [...]

The Maya – Engineering an Empire

At the height of its glory, this mysterious civilization ruled a territory of 125,000 square miles across parts of Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. What began as a modest population of hunters and gatherers expanded into more than forty flourishing city-states who engineered sky-high temple-pyramids, ornate palaces and advanced hydraulic systems. Where did [...]

Building the Great Pyramid

The recent robotic explorations of the ‘air-shafts’ in the Great Pyramid have demonstrated that there are still many mysteries surrounding the ancient monument. Ian Shaw discusses the debate around the building of the great structure and investigates the methods used in its construction.

Egypt – Engineering an Empire

Twenty-five hundred years before the reign of Julius Caesar, the ancient Egyptians were deftly harnessing the power of engineering on an unprecedented scale. Egyptian temples, fortresses, pyramids and palaces forever redefined the limits of architectural possibility. They also served as a warning to all of Egypt’s enemies-that the world’s most advanced civilization could accomplish anything. [...]

Rome – Engineering an Empire

This video tells the story of the expansion of the Roman Empire by means of amazing engineering feats. One of the more impressive anecdotes of this History Channel production is that the Roman aqueducts procured more water for the city of Rome during the Empire than New York City could supply its inhabitants in 1985.

Trucks – Megafactories

At the Peterbilt factory, workers are busy building Model 387 trucks – titans of the road, made to pull vehicles weighing up to 36 tonnes. To produce this aerodynamic marvel, the Peterbilt design team partnered with its engineers to create the ideal full-scale model. However, with more than 20,000 parts per vehicle, turning this truck [...]

Plan Abu Dhabi 2030

Abu Dhabi’s new grand Urban Planning Guide communicates the principles and visualises the UPC plans for the expansion of the city to attract investors, developers and architects. Through 4 main key themes (Green – Live – Work – Connect), you can see pedestrians walking on shaded sidewalks, using the world-class metro system and trams surrounded by [...]

Torre Mayor – Mexico City

Brief history of the Torre Mayor, the tallest skyscraper in Latin America. Made of steel and concrete, it is located in the largest city on the planet, Mexico City. It has to survive some of the world’s deadliest earthquakes.

New York’s New World Trade Center

Nice footage featuring the World Trade Center and its three new towers currently under construction, designed by Lord Norman Foster, Lord Richard Rogers and Fumihiko Maki (in addition to SOM current plan for the Freedom Tower), that will replace the twin towers in New York.

Dubai and Moscow’s Dynamic Architecture

David Fisher’s company “Dynamic Architecture” has designed two rotating skyscrapers, on for Dubai and one for Moscow. Dubai’s building will be made up of 80 floors, with an apartment on each floor. The rotation is made possible by 79 giant power-generating wind turbines that will also provide enough energy to power the entire building and feed extra [...]

Windpark – Megabuilders

23 kilometers off the coast of Holland is the most ambitious wind power project ever attempted, in the most unpredictalbe environment on earth. Find out how they built it.

The Ultimate Roller Coaster – Megastructures

Follow the construction of the world’s tallest, fastest roller coaster, the Kingda Ka. This TV Show details the construction and engineering of the Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure from ground breaking through opening day. Kingda Ka stands 45 stories tall and uses hydraulic motors to reach top speed of 128 mph.

Subways in America – Extreme Engineering

How do you overhaul one of the nation’s oldest and most traveled subway systems without shutting down a city for several years? New Yorkers are finding out.

World’s Tallest Hotel – Megastructures

The Burj Al Arab Hotel off the coast of Dubai rises 321 metres from an artificial island in the Arabian Gulf. tThis sail-like structure boasts numerous technical innovations, including the largest fabric wall and atrium in the world, and a “floating” restaurant. First envisioned by Dubai’s crown prince, the project was entrusted to the inexperienced architect [...]

Hong Kong – Megacities

Beginning as a trading port in the 19th century, Hong Kong has developed into a leading financial centre. It was a crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1842 until the transfer of its sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. The Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulate that [...]

Mexico City – Megacities

To Mother Nature, Mexico City is one big target. On one side: one of the world’s most earthquake-prone hotspots. On the other: one of the world’s most active volcanoes. And beneath their feet – a shaky foundation of landfill. From subways to freeways, this episode examines how Mexico City is harnessing cutting-edge technology to build [...]

The Three Gorges Dam – China’s Mega Dam

The total electric generating capacity of the dam will reach 22,500 megawatts, at which point it will be the largest hydro-electric power station in the world by capacity. This is the biggest project that has been undertaken in China since the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Several generators are yet to be installed; the [...]

The World’s Highest Railway – Man Made Marvels

The total length of the Qinghai-Tibet (or Qingzang) railway in China is 1956 km. More than 960 km, or over 80% of the Golmud-Lhasa section, is at an altitude of more than 4,000 m. There are 675 bridges, totalling 159.88 km, and over half the length of the railway is laid on permafrost.

Oresund Bridge – Megastructures

Stretching a staggering 8-kilometres, the Oresund Bridge changed the face of Scandinavia when it opened in 2000, carrying both road and rail traffic from Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmo in Sweden. Follow the progress of the project, focusing on the challenges that the designers, engineers, and construction teams face.

Hangzhou Bay Bridge – Man Made Marvels

The bridge itself is 35.673 kilometres (22 mi) long with six expressway lanes in two directions, making it the second-longest bridge in the world. The bridge has two main spans, with a 448-metre (1,470 ft) northern span, and a 318-metre (1,043 ft) southern span. The designed longevity is more than 100 years. The total investment [...]

Dubai’s Palm Island – Megastructures

This project is so vast that it can be seen from space. Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island in the shape of a massive palm tree. It is part of an even bigger plan to transform Dubai into one of the world’s premiere tourist destinations. But with only a few years to create this paradise [...]

Shanghai World Financial Center – Extreme Engineering

This mixed use skyscraper which consists of office spaces, hotel rooms, conference rooms, observation decks and shops on the ground floors. The hotel component will open with 175 rooms and suites in mid-2008 as the Park Hyatt Shanghai.
On September 14, 2007, it became the tallest structure in China, including Hong Kong, as well as the world’s third [...]

Al Raha Beach – World’s Greatest Waterfront

The Al Raha Beach Development is a project in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. It will allow 120′000 people to live in the 11-kilometre water front of Al Raha Beach, which is set to become one of the greatest waterfront cities in the world.
On our blog:
Al Raha Beach, the world’s greatest waterfront

World’s Largest Arch Bridge – Dubai

The bridge will bet 670 feet tall and will have 12 lanes of traffic. This means it will be able to carry up to 2,000 vehicles per hour. It should be finished for 2012 and it will cost about $817 million.
On our blog:
Dubai to build world’s tallest arch bridge

London Olympic Stadium 2012

The London 2012 Olympic stadium is a £450 million project. The athletics stadium will allow for 80′000 seats, and it will be converted into a more easily maintained 25′000 seat venue after the Games.
On our blog:
London 2012 preparing its demountable Olympic stadium

Beijing National Stadium – Discovery Channel

Excellent video from Discovery Channel about Beijing National Stadium. It illustrates the whole thing, from the idea to the architectural concept, to the engineering challenge and the construction. If you find the videos too long, you might want to jump to parts 3 and 4 that have the most information about the engineering and the [...]

Moscow City – Russia’s gate to success

The Moscow International Business Centre (MIBC or “Moscow City”) is an enormous multi-billion dollar project in the Presnenskaya Embankment area in the heart of Moscow’s Kremlin.
It is said the MIBC is the largest investment and construction project in Europe at the moment. The project is estimated to cost more than $12 billion, and it should be completed by [...]

Why the World Trade Center 7 Collapsed

This is the official technical explanation from the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) of how fire could bring down the 47 stories Salomon brothers building, in 6.5 seconds.

Beijing Airport – World’s Biggest Airport

The biggest and most advanced airport terminal ever attempted has to be built in just 4 years, in time for last summer’s olympic games.

Masdar – The Sustainable City

A city powered entirely by renewable and sustainable energy technologies. I will produce 0% of CO2.
On our blog:
http://www.edibek.com/2008/06/30/masdar-sustainable-city/

Rio-Antirrio Bridge – Megastructures

The combination of challenges is amazing: strong earthquakes, deep waters, fast currents and weak sea beds. It is the longest cable-stayed suspension bridge in the world, and has the largest bridge foundations.

Kansai Airport – Megastructures

Kansai International Airport is located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, Japan. However, the whole airport is sinking!

Heathrow Terminal 5 – Big, Bigger, Biggest

London Heathrow, the busiest international airport in the world, combines a hundred years of engineering. This video shows how such an amazing airport was built and how it works.

Building the Burj Dubai – Big, Bigger, Biggest

When completed, the Burj Dubai will be the world’s tallest skyscraper. But how is it possible? What technology wil allow 35,000 people in a single building?

Califonia High Speed Rail

All major cities in California will be linked with state-of-the-art new high-speed trains that will move people and products across the state like never before.

The Story of Wind Power

Nice video show wind power’s history, from the Egyptians to now.
Source: http://ingenieriaenlared.wordpress.com

World’s Longest Trucks – Extreme Machines

Road trains and other trucks able to carry buildings. Features a mudular concept from Mammoet.

Building Hong Kong’s Airport – Extreme Engineering

Great video showing how the artificial island that became the airport was built, and also how the airport was connected to the city using huge bridges and tunnels.

Hydropolis Undersea Resort – Dubai

The abandoned project of Hydropolis, a completely underwater hotel close to The Palm depelopment. Shows how it would have been built.

Coral Island Resort – The World – Dubai

An amazing resort under construction at Nakheel’s “The World” islands in Dubai.

Container Ships – Extreme Engineering

Shows how industrial harbours work and what they do at the port of Long Beach, California. Features a new Maersk ship under construction.

Poseidon Undersea Resort

An abandoned project for a 1,200 square feet resort completely under water.

Tokyo Sky City – Extreme Engineering

The project of Sky city is a building capable of housing thousands of people vertically.

Torre Espacio Madrid – Extreme Engineering

Spain’s tallest building, completely made out of concrete in the center of Madrid.

Stonecutters Bridge – Discovery Channel

World’s longest cable-stayed bridge spans over Hong Kong’s crowded harbour.

Dubai – Impossible City

The best documentary ever made about Dubai and its incredible constructions. All aspects of the new constructions are discussed. From the palm islands, to burj dubai, the floating bridge, Burj Al Arab and the metro construction.
On our blog:
http://www.edibek.com/2007/03/13/dubai/

Engineering Thrills – Discovery Channel

Great documentary from Discovery Channel about roller-coasters and engineering. Features some of the best rollercoasters in the world, Niagara falls and expert advice.

V building, Birmingham

“A 52 storey residential in the heart of Birmingham. Received planning permission to be built by Developers Dandara on the site of the old TV centre.
Helping to create a new skyline to define Birmingham’s renaissance as a 21 century city, the tower will create a grand new public space open to all. Culminating in a [...]

Borobay Lakes, Kazahstan

This is a planned lakeside resort in Borabai, a region at the northern of Kazahstan. It is designed by CivicArt, this is a year round activity and entertainment based destination.

City of Silk, Kuwait

“Woven together by its ribbons of parks and lakes the 25 neighbourhoods of the City of Silk promise a truly sustainable future for the Persian Gulf. Deliberately scaled around walk-able distances, each district acts as a molecule of daily life addressing their citizens’ needs for food, faith, health and education within local communities. Home to [...]

Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens, Dubai

Great urban development in Dubai.
“The Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens capture the spirit of Civic Design, creating new hope for the Middle East by restoring the soul of Arabian civilization to the heart of its cities.
A literal translation of the astrolabe’s ornate brass rete, the city’s parks and gardens form a lush green net that catches [...]