The design of a building plays a crucial role in determining its future performance, sustainability, and energy efficiency. Designing a building is no simple feat. It can be a long, tedious, and costly process depending on the desired outcome. As…
Articles
How Do Skyscrapers Withstand Lightning?
Lightning can be incredibly terrifying and dangerous. In any given year, somewhere between 6,000 and 24,000 people die from lightning strikes. Being in a skyscraper during a thunderstorm can be pretty scary, too, particularly if you don’t know whether or…
Why Do Construction Workers Start So Early?
There is nothing like a nearby construction site waking you up at 8 A.M. the morning after your night shift. Loaders, trucks, and excavators seem to wake up more people than smartphones. But why do construction workers start so early?…
Should Road Construction Be Done at Night?
Nighttime road construction is a contentious issue. Road or highway upgrade and maintenance at night is also intensely debated by the proponents and critics. There are significant advantages and disadvantages of nighttime road construction, so the moot point is if…
7 Reasons Why Road Work Takes So Long
There’s nothing more frustrating than having to take detours on your morning commute, especially when it seems like you’ve had to do it forever. Road work is all too common in cities all across the country. As frustrating as it…
Why Do City Sewers Hold So Much Heat?
Something you may have noticed about New York is that it’s very steamy. The steam billows from manholes around the city and wafts up into the air – but why? As it turns out, city sewers can get pretty warm.…
9 Reasons Why Smart Cities Are More Needed Than Ever
If you’ve ever heard of smart city technology, then you’ve probably heard about the efficiency and progressive growth that goes along with it. There are over 170 cities in the world that have introduced smart city technology projects, but that…
Urban Planning vs. City Planning: Differences Explained
City planning and urban planning share many commonalities. Both aim to improve the physical built environment and social landscape through strategic planning and policy, with urban planning focused on larger, more mature cities. Both urban and city planning have the…
The Skyscraper Construction Process Explained
Skyscrapers are one of the most iconic structures of any modern city or town. They represent power, luxury, and prestige to whatever culture they belong to. That said, the sheer scale and engineering required to construct skyscrapers are astonishing. The…
Why Are Highway Signs Usually Green?
One thing many drivers have never considered is that road signs are designed to be different colors intentionally. We all know of traffic lights being specific colors, but what about other road signs? Many of us may wonder, why are…
6 Common Reasons Why Smart Cities Fail
Smart cities are often touted as the future of modern society, where technology is meant to work seamlessly within our lives to make life easier, faster, and more interconnected. Smart cities, however, face numerous problems that often make them fail.…
Why Are Bridges Built So High off the Ground?
We’ve all marveled at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and its towering piers, either in real life or through a screen. But have you ever wondered why exactly those piers are that tall? And why are bridges built so high…