Civil Engineering

A dam built in the Amazon created thousands of ‘forest islands’ but they are too small to sustain most species

The Conversation: Built in the 1980s, the Balbina Dam is one of dozens of large dams across rivers in the Amazon Basin. Such dams might leave behind seemingly green patches…

Europe’s Scorching Summer Puts Unexpected Strain on Energy Supply

New York Times: In a Nordic land famous for its steep fjords, where water is very nearly a way of life, Sverre Eikeland scaled down the boulders that form the walls of one of Norway’s chief reservoirs, past the driftwood that protruded…

Are 3D Printed Houses as Sustainable as They Seem?

3DPrint.com: Is additive construction (AC) sustainable? Many companies in the sector argue that it is for numerous reasons. They assert that it reduces waste because builders can print only what they need for particular projects. They also say that using…

Swarms of Mini Robots Could Dig the Tunnels of the Future

Wired: For decades, engineers seeking to build tunnels underground have relied on huge tube-like machines armed with a frightening array of cutting wheels at one end—blades that eat dirt for breakfast. These behemoths, called tunnel-boring machines, or TBMs, are expensive…