Civil engineering has played an important part in boosting life’s quality and health in the past five decades. From creating better wastewater treatment plants, municipal sewer systems, and water supplies, to the manufacturing of structures to shield individuals from natural hazards and offer healthcare. Better agriculture via development of water resources, as well as distribution works to dramatic and rapid changes within systems of transportation, civil contractors have created the fundamental infrastructure upon which modern-day society depends on. Civil engineers are continually committed to development of technology for the common good.

Worldwide, there are several feats of engineering which make individuals stare in awe. From the Palm Islands in Dubai, constructed of man-made islands which had to be built from sandstone and rock, to stepping onto an oval glass ring right above the Grand Canyon. The below 5 incredible structures discovered across the world are some of the best feats of civil construction we believe you just have to see for yourself! Pop them on your travel bucket list ASAP.

Dubai, The Palm Islands

The Atlantis Hotel at Palm Islands in Dubai

In Dubai, The Palm Islands completed construction on September 24 of 2008 and comprise of about 100 million m3 of rock and sand. Prior to constructing a total of 210 million m3 of rock, limestone, and sand was dredged then reclaimed in order for the islands to be built. The outside ring of the Palm Islands took ten million m3 on its own. Rocks which were utilised in construction of the islands were brought from quarries in the wider United Arab Emirates, with a total of sixteen quarries being utilised. Overall, the quantity of material which was utilised in the building of the Palm Islands might be enough to make a tiny wall which would extend across the globe 3 times over.

Dubai, The Burj Khalifa

A view of Dubai from the Burj Khalifa observation deck. 

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was finished on January 4 of 2010, and it isn’t just the globe’s tallest structure, standing at 828 m, it also is the tallest free-standing building in the world. There were multiple obstacles to tackle whilst designing and constructing the building, one of which included high winds. Because of problems with strong winds, the building underwent over forty wind tunnel tests. They were undertaken not just on the structure itself but also on the cranes which were being utilised during construction.

Grand Canyon, The Skywalk

Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Skywalk includes a horseshoe walk which was completed on March 28 of 2007 and was the concept of a Las Vegas business man, David Jin, who talked about the project along with the Hualapai tribe. Jin envisioned a walkway of glass stretching out over the Grand Canyon within a half circle. The walkway may hold an overall weight of 71 million lbs., which equates to about 71 completely loaded 747 airplanes. The Skywalk is 1,219 m above the Colorado River and goes 21 meters from the cliff’s edge. About 83,000 lbs. of glass was utilised in its construction alongside 1 million lbs. of steel. The entire thing was built on-site and drilling for the walkway took more than a year from beginning to end.

France, The Millau Viaduct

Millau Viaduct 

It was finished on December 16 of 2004 and includes the highest road bridge deck throughout Europe. It’s situated 270 m above the Tarn River at the highest point of the viaduct and includes the tallest bridge worldwide; the bridget is 342 m and comes in taller than the Eiffel Tower. It provides passage between Spain and Paris and assists in easing congestion. The Millau Viaduct possesses a lifespan of about 120 years and is priced at a grand total of 320 million Euros to construct.

Osaka, Japan, The Kansai Airport

Kansai Airport

In Osaka, Japan, The Kansai Airport was finished in 1994 at an expense of $20 billion and included the first airport to be constructed on an island which was artificially created. A new airport was required in Osaka, being amongst the most crowded cities within Japan; therefore, engineers discovered an answer by creating an island which measured
4 km by 2.5 km. It took them 3 years to construct and included over 10,000 civil workers alongside 80 ships in order to excavate the twenty-one million m3 of landfill. It was amongst the priciest civil engineering projects worldwide.

Author Bio: This article was written by Jayde Ferguson who writes for DM Civil Contractors in Perth Western Australia.

Photo sources:

Atlantis Hotel: Flickr Creative Commons Guilhem Vellut Burj Khalifa

Observation Deck: Flickr Creative Commons Darla دارلا Hueske

Grand Canyon Sky Walk: Flickr Creative Commons Ben Gillin Millau

Viaduct: Flickr Creative Commons David Jones

Kansai Airport: Flickr Creative Commons Max Wheeler