Symbolism and Design of the St. Louis Arch
In 1947, the St. Louis Arch was designed by the architect Eero Saarinen and built as a weighted catenary arch. Standing at 630 feet, the St. Louis Gateway Arch is the tallest arch in the world, the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, and the tallest accessible building in Missouri. The construction of the […]
Ways to make your home energy efficient
Making your home energy efficient will not only save you money but also reduce energy wasted within your home. There are some easy changes to make in order to help your home become more energy-efficient. Change your light bulbs to LED’s Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are more energy-efficient and longer-lasting than the old incandescent bulbs […]
Big Bayou Canot Collapse | September 22, 1993
On September 22, 1993, an Amtrak train was traveling across the Big Bayou Canot Bridge in Mobile, Alabama. The train derailed which resulted in the death of 47 people and 103 people being injured. The derailing of the train was caused by a deformation in the rails from a barge towing a heavy load that […]
How Engineers Maintain Movable Bridges
Movable bridges tend to be an expensive investment because of the size of the bridges and the controls needed to operate them. These bridges have more costly maintenance issues than fixed bridges because of the complexity of mechanical, electrical, and structural components despite the advancements of technology. The maintenance system of movable bridges is vital […]
How does the internet get across the oceans?
The Internet’s system is made up of 750,000 miles of wire cables, the size of a strand of hair throughout the ocean floor to various continents. Companies have gathered their resources together to collaborate on Undersea cable projects to find the best services. Although, Google has created its Undersea cable project from the United States […]
How to hang heavy pieces of art on drywall
If your artwork is over 20 lbs, then it will need proper reinforcement. Otherwise, it may come crashing down after hanging it. Once you learn how to hang heavy pieces of art on drywall, you will also be able to add shelving, mirrors, and other heavy decorative items. There are steps to help you learn […]
How Land is Surveyed
In our everyday lives, we use a variety of tools for measuring, such as tape measures, protractors, and rulers which work well for home projects. So how do engineers take measurements for larger projects like a bridge, road, pipeline, or dam? In civil engineering, almost every project begins with a survey to determine the legal […]
The Construction of the Panama Canal
In 1881, France began construction of the Panama Canal, a 51-mile waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in Panama. Due to high mortality rates and engineering problems, France ended operations and the United States took over construction in 1904. The Panama Canal was one of the most challenging and largest engineering projects taken on […]
How are Windmills Manufactured and Assembled?
Windmills have been around for thousands of years, first being used to grind grain and pump water, and eventually generating electricity. A generator helps in creating electricity which is converted by the rotational energy of the wind turbine. Palmer Cosslett Putnam designed the Smith-Putnam wind turbine, which was capable of supplying enough electricity to a […]