Great Engineering

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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.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.

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?

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.

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.

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Featured Videos

Building the Great Pyramid

Oresund Bridge – Megastructures

Shanghai World Financial Center – Extreme Engineering

Rio-Antirrio Bridge – Megastructures

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?

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.

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.