09.3.2010 

A High-Tech Titan Plagued by Potholes »

India’s economic reliance on the tech outsourcing industry is making it difficult for them to keep up with their own internal infrastructure:

In 1990, civil engineering programs had the capacity to enroll 13,500 students, while computer science and information technology departments could accept but 12,100. Yet by 2007, after a period of incredible growth in India’s software outsourcing business, computer science and other information technology programs ballooned to 193,500; civil engineering climbed to only 22,700. Often, those admitted to civil engineering programs were applicants passed over for highly competitive computer science tracks.

There are various other reasons that India has struggled to build a modern infrastructure, including poor planning, political meddling and outright corruption. But the shortage of civil engineers is an important factor. In 2008, the World Bank estimated that India would need to train three times as many civil engineers as it does now to meet its infrastructure needs.

infrastructure india engineering 
 05.7.2010 

Honda’s U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype.

My favorite part of the design of this thing is its ability to move in two dimensions without rotating, with its large wheel made out of small perpendicular wheels. Amazing engineering.

engineering design honda robots 

 07.15.2009 

Time-lapse construction of the Tradeston Bridge in Glasgow, Scotland.

I love how you can see the tides rising and falling through the day. At the end, you can also see how much work they did to beautify the riverfront.

(infrastructurist)

bridges infrastructure construction timelapse engineering scotland 
 06.3.2009 
Airfoils are more powerful than we give them credit for.

Airfoils are more powerful than we give them credit for.

engineering space space shuttle 747 flight 

 05.29.2009 
Visualizing the US power grid. A neat data viz map of the US that allows you to see major power line arteries, types of power plants and their locations, and what source the power comes from in your area. There are even layers that show solar and wind power, and where those are most effective. Looks like Florida is powered by: 38% Gas 28% Coal 17% Oil 13% Nuclear 13% of Florida energy comes from three nuclear facilities: Crystal River, Turkey Point, and St. Lucie. That’s pretty impressive. Nuclear power provides 48% of Illinois’ energy, and a whopping 71% of Vermont’s. It’s also interesting to see how important hydro power is to the Pacific Northwest, mostly sourced from the Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams on the Columbia River. (benfry)

Visualizing the US power grid.

A neat data viz map of the US that allows you to see major power line arteries, types of power plants and their locations, and what source the power comes from in your area. There are even layers that show solar and wind power, and where those are most effective.

Looks like Florida is powered by:

  • 38% Gas
  • 28% Coal
  • 17% Oil
  • 13% Nuclear

13% of Florida energy comes from three nuclear facilities: Crystal River, Turkey Point, and St. Lucie. That’s pretty impressive. Nuclear power provides 48% of Illinois’ energy, and a whopping 71% of Vermont’s. It’s also interesting to see how important hydro power is to the Pacific Northwest, mostly sourced from the Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams on the Columbia River.

(benfry)

energy engineering environment florida infrastructure power visualization data 
 02.9.2009 

Timelapse of a ship’s journey through the Panama Canal.

I love watching the ships rise up through the locks into the lakes of Panama and fall back down to exit on the other side.

And I can’t believe human beings dug that massive channel.

(map of the Canal)

panama canal geography engineering timelapse ships travel maps 

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