In the Know: Week of July 8-12

The A/E/C industry is ever-changing because of technology, improved processes, strategies, project delivery methods, the workforce and much more. And we love content that is educational, historical, thought-provoking and inspiring.

So we thought we’d share. Here are five Insights that caught our eye this week to help keep you in the know.

THE WORLD’S SHORTCUT: HOW THE PANAMA CANAL WORKS

What happens in Panama affects the entire world—it has been that way since 1914, when the Panama Canal opened for business. Shipping connects the world’s economies, and the Panama Canal remains one of the most important connections in shipping. The video below explains how this engineering marvel works.

TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER DISPLAYS HURRICANE RESILIENCE

The Texas Medical Center, a 2.1-square-mile medical district in south-central Houston, takes hurricane preparation seriously every year. Read how the world’s largest medical complex has taken steps to remain open and minimize damage when a storm hits.

DRONE VIDEO RECOGNIZED FOR ITS ‘CINEMATIC MINDSET’

Civil + Structural Engineer Media announced the winner of its drone video of the year award. It went to the appropriately named “The Big Boom.” The video, produced by Nelson Aerial Productions, documented 10 separate building demolitions over a four-year period.

Click here for more of the video’s backstory.

CONCEPT BEACH HOME BUILT USING RECYCLED PLASTIC

A Canadian firm has revealed its concept house made from more than 600,000 recycled plastic bottles. The home—a beach house—is 2,000 square feet and has been designed to withstand hurricane-force winds.

INTERSTATE SYSTEM INSPIRED BY ‘TRUCK TRAIN’ EXERCISE

One hundred years ago, then Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower was part of the first U.S. Army transcontinental convoy. The trip from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco was a military mobility exercise, but it paved the way for thinking about the U.S. interstate system in place today.

This map from 1957 shows the U.S. interstate highway system plans.