The Latin terms ingenium, which means “cleverness,” and ingeniare, which means “to devise,” are the origin of the word engineering. Humanity has been applying intelligence for ages to create, plan, and build things that assist us in resolving life’s challenges. While there are many outstanding civil engineering projects in the world, these are a few that stand the test of time.
10. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
The whole length of Lake Pontchartrain is covered by the 23.83-mile (38.35-kilometer) Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, United States. Even though it was inaugurated in 1959, decades ago, it remains the world’s longest continuously operating bridge across water. Compared to all other causeways in the globe, the causeway, which is held up by 9,500 pilings, has incurred very little damage from significant hurricanes and storms because of its extreme stability.
9. Burj Khalifa
The world’s tallest structure is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which rises to a height of 829.8 meters. The “buttressed core,” an engineering structural system with a hexagonal core that aids in supporting taller buildings than ever before, was developed as a result of the building’s very tall design. The building’s design was influenced by Islamic architectural patterns and structures, and it bears the name of the President of the United States Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai. The building of the structure cost $1.5 billion. The structure has played a significant role in popular culture; it appears in the movies Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). In addition to shattering a number of other records, the Burj Khalifa has won the highest praise from architects, engineers, and citizens alike, with 211 floors.
8. English Channel Tunnel
The English Channel Tunnel connects Pas-de-Calais, France, with the UK’s Kent coast. At 23.5 miles (37.9 km), it is the longest underwater section of any tunnel in the world. Its lowest point is 115 meters (380 feet) below sea level and 75 meters (250 feet) below the sea bed. It is the largest transport system of its sort in the world, capable of carrying high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, international cargo trains, and a shuttle for road cars. At a whopping £9 billion in total cost, it was the most costly project ever when it opened in 1994. Even though other building projects have become more costly recently, this one is still regarded as one of the best engineering feats ever.
7. Golden Gate Bridge
Many people believe that the Golden Gate Bridge is among the world’s most exquisite bridges. A mile-long suspension bridge that connects Marin County with the city of San Francisco is part of this $27 million project. For nearly thirty years, beginning with its 1937 opening, it held the title of longest suspension bridge globally. The American Society of Civil Engineers has named the bridge a Wonder of the Modern World, making it one of the most recognizable and significant emblems of the United States.
6. Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam, a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Colorado River’s Black Canyon, was built during the Great Depression. The biggest reservoir in the US, Lake Mead, is now impoundment because to the Hoover Dam. Because it was such a big undertaking, thousands of workers were housed in various makeshift villages while it was being constructed. The dam, named for President Herbert Hoover, took two years longer than expected to build and cost more than $660 million. It was finished in five years.
5. Itaipu Dam
The Itaipu Dam is located on the Parana River, which borders Paraguay and Brazil. At an astounding 103,098,366 megawatt-hour (MWh), this mega-dam generates more hydroelectric electricity than any other dam in the world. Although the dam produces so much electricity that there is excess energy for Paraguay that is transported back to Brazil, the energy it produces is divided equally between Paraguay and Brazil.
4. Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s first steel-wire suspension bridge and is among the oldest in the country. It spans the East River to link the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, having been completed in 1883. Two generations of engineers—John August Roebling and his son Washington Roebling, who took over the project when his father fell ill—designed and finished the bridge. The building of it cost $15.5 million. After being referred to by locals for thirty years as the Brooklyn Bridge, the structure’s official name was changed from the New York and Brooklyn Bridge to the East River Bridge. Since its debut, it has evolved into a historical landmark and one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions. It was designated a historic landmark in 1964.
3. The Colosseum
The Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever constructed, is among the most recognizable buildings in the entire globe. With a seating capacity of 50,000–80,000, this nearly 2,000-year-old building is as big as many contemporary stadiums. Located in the center of ancient Rome, Italy, this structure served as a source of amusement for the populace. It continues to be researched and written about today, and it has appeared in many instances in popular culture.
2. Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, one of the world’s greatest wonders and a popular tourist destination worldwide, with a history spanning over 2,000 years. Although it is referred to as the “Great Wall” in Western cultures, the Chinese call it Chéng, which combines the words “wall” and “city.” The “Great Wall” to us is the “Long City,” and the “Long Wall” to the people of China, due to the innate relationship between settlements and walls in China. From Dandong in the east of the nation to Lop Lake in the west is where the Great Wall is located. The total length of the wall, including all of its branches, is 13, 171 miles. It isn’t possible to know exactly how much the wall would have cost to build, but modern calculations say it would be somewhere between $13billion and $65 billion.
1. Great Pyramid of Giza
Being the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is still mostly intact. For more than 3,800 years, it was the highest building in the world and the largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. The pyramid was reportedly built over the course of twenty years as a tomb for Khufu, the Egyptian king of the fourth Dynasty. Several experts calculate that 8,000 tonnes of imported granite, 500,000 tonnes of mortar, and 5.5 million tonnes of limestone went into making it. Additionally, experts predict that building a copy now would come with a $5 billion price tag.
Humanity has employed intellect to construct enormous, striking buildings throughout history. These rank among the best civil engineering projects ever undertaken, however many excellent ones have gone on to become iconic structures and historical sites. They serve as examples of our capacity to create original designs and structures.
Regarding the most amazing inventions, every engineer will have a distinct perspective. Among the buildings that deserve recognition are the Shanghai Tower skyscraper in China, which is currently the second-tallest building in the world, and the Millau Viaduct, the world’s tallest cable-stayed road bridge. It’s obvious that engineering has a bright future ahead of it, and as technology develops, we’ll witness even more amazing inventions.