CONTENTS The engineering challenge 4 Great Pyramid of Giza 6 Laying down tracks 8 Warning lights 10 Boring a tunnel 12 Spreading the load 14 Towering giants 16 Linking the oceans 18 Glossary 30 Answers 31 Index 32 Building high in the sky 20 Holding back the flow 22 Power from the wind 24 Zero-gravity engineering 26 Get ready for take-off 28
THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE Civil engineers design and build structures such as bridges buildings and tunnels Architects and engineers need to make sure the structures they design and build are strong enough to withstand forces such as high winds or shaking from earthquakes 4 The test of time The Arkadiko Bridge in Greece was built more than 3,000 years ago for use by horse-drawn chariots It formed part of a road linking the cities of Tiryns and Epidauros The stone bridge has survived the test of time and is still used today
Simple machines With no engines or electricity to help them builders in the ancient world used simple machines such as ramps and pulleys to help them lift heavy stone or wood into position Huge teams of workers were needed to do the work Today giant cranes with powerful motors do the heavy lifting work Green engineering Concerned about polluting the planet architects are designing buildings that are environmentally friendly In Singapore giant vertical gardens called supertrees have been built in a park in the center of the city They generate electricity collect rainwater and are home to a huge collection of rare plants 5 A crane lifts a huge metal beam into place as the frame of a high-rise building is constructed Read on to discover the challenges that engineers have overcome through the ages The answers to each project’s questions are found on page 31
