Construction Technology

How did a simple design error cause one of the great disasters of the 1980s - the collapse of the walkways at the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel? What made the graceful and innovative Tacoma Narrows Bridge twist apart in a mild wind in 1940? How did an oversized waterlily inspire the magnificent Crystal Palace, the crowning achievement of Victorian architecture and engineering? These are some of the failures and successes that Henry Petroski, author of the acclaimed The Pencil, examines in this engaging, wonderfully literate book.

Bridges are engineering marvels! It takes a civil engineer, chief engineer, structural engineer and environmental engineer to build a bridge. There are different kinds that each require a special construction process to build. Learn how different bridges such as beam, suspension and arch bridge types are designed and built, as well as the construction workers needed at specific stages.

Yo wants to know why the road is being dug up—he sees a lot of machines and empty pipes! With the help of the construction workers, he learns how workers build and repair the water pipeline under the streets and roads where Yo travels—to carry water to all the homes and buildings that need it!

We are living in a new urban age and its most tangible expression is the "supertall": megastructures that are dramatically bigger, higher, and more ambitious than any in history. In Supertall, TED Resident Stefan Al—himself an experienced architect who has worked on some of the largest buildings in the world—reveals the advancements in engineering, design, and data science that have led to this worldwide boom.

Hello explorers! Get ready to dig deep into the world of engineering marvels and architectural wonders on this new adventure. Make sure you bring your hard hat and high-vis jacket, because we’re going to be getting our hands dirty! These audiobooks help children learn about their environment on a journey of discovery with narrators Ben Bailey Smith (a.k.a. Doc Brown, rapper, comedian and writer) Sophie Alred (Dr Who) and Kristin Atherton as Missy.

Carefully leveled text engages young listeners in learning about how construction workers help their community. Age-appropriate critical thinking questions and a glossary help build nonfiction learning skills.