The BEST episodes of Megastructures

#1 - Sears Tower

Season 2004 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/29/2004

For 20 years, the Sears Tower held the record for the world’s tallest building. Completed in 1973, the 110 stories high building is almost half a kilometer tall. And it still holds the record for having the world’s highest antenna. John Zils, structural engineer and designer of this mega-structure shares some of the secrets about the tower. And get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the various systems and controls that are vital to the building, like security monitoring, the elevators, and the water and power distribution to the various levels, and even the machines that cleans the windows.

#2 - Kansai International Airport

Season 2004 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/2004

Located 5 km off the coast of Osaka, Japan, is the Kansai International Airport. The airport is built entirely on a man-made island, 4 km long and 1 km wide. The only link between the island and Osaka is by the world’s longest 2-tiered bridge. Although the airport is built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, the artificial island itself is sinking faster than anticipated. The episode looks at the various measures that are taken to keep the airport ‘afloat’, and the various facilities and services available to keep the airport running.

#3 - World's Biggest Airliner (Airbus A380)

Season 2005 - Episode 16 - Aired 10/4/2005

It is the largest passenger plane ever built and it is a 12 billion dollar investment. The episode documents the history of the Airbus A380, from its design concept, its interior features, the precision manufacturing, the logistics, the final assembly and its final maiden flight.

#4 - Autobahn

Season 2004 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/19/2004

What began as a racing track, and thanks to Adolf Hitler’s World War II propaganda efforts, the track grew into a sophisticated high-speed road system, linking to almost all the major cities in Germany. The Autobahn boasts of having super thick road beds, 4% or less grades, wide lanes, and build on layers of technology. The Autobahn allows vehicles to travel at speeds exceeding 160km/h for roughly 2/3 of its roads. The episode profiles the operations of the highway cops, and their reliance on technology in training, monitoring of roads and various methods of arrest. It also looks at the ADAC, an automobile club, which provides on the spot road assistance. Nicknamed ‘The Yellow Angels’, they also provide air medical rescue. The system of maintenance of the Autobahn is also examined. All this infrastructure makes this mega structure into one of the world’s most safest super highway.

#5 - Machines of War: Tanks

Season 2006 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/17/2006

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#6 - Petronas Towers

Season 2004 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/2004

Designed by Cesar Pelli, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world on the date of its completion. Located in Kuala Lumpur, the design of the 88 storey, 450m tall twin towers, carries an Islamic geometrical influence. The towers are a symbol of Malaysia’s pride. To instill competition, the contract for the construction of the towers were awarded to two different construction companies, each company was assigned to work on one of the towers. This episode takes a look at how the construction companies competed to complete their tower before the other. Problems faced, from the soil samples, the unique cement mixture used as a steel substitute, to the tropical weather, are covered.

#7 - Itaipu Dam

Season 2004 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/2004

In the Paraná River of South America, lies the Itaipú Dam. Costing 20 billion dollars, the Itaipú Dam is the world's largest and most powerful hydroelectric power plant. It is a representation of the efforts and accomplishment of two countries, Brazil and Paraguay. The episode examines the efforts undertaken and the sacrifices made to construct the dam, including how the largest diversion channel was constructed to divert water from the world’s 7th largest river away from the main construction site.

#8 - Channel Tunnel

Season 2004 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/22/2004

The Channel Tunnel or Euro Tunnel is one of the world’s longest underground rail tunnels, and links England with France. Consisting of two rail tunnels and a small service tunnel in-between, they total 153 km in length. The documentary looks at the race between the British and the French to complete the tunneling of the Channel Tunnel and the obstacles faced in its construction.

#9 - Super Carrier: USS Ronald Reagan

Season 2004 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/15/2004

The USS Ronald Reagan is a 4.5 billion dollars Nimitz-class supercarrier. Powered by 2 nuclear reactors, the 1100ft. long vessel is equipped with all the necessary facilities to house 6000 personnel and over 80 aircraft. Viewers are given an exclusive look at how the crew of these ‘floating naval base’ is put through a series of test in order to obtain their flight deck certification. Take a glimpse at the various facilities on the ship that keep the 6000 strong crew fed, rested, and entertained.

#10 - Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Season 2004 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/20/2004

In 1955, two ferries sank along the Akashi Strait, Japan, killing 168 children. It led to a 30 year research on designing a bridge that would link the Awaji Island to Kobe; the bridge would also have to be able to withstand severe earthquakes and typhoons, a norm in that area. In 1988, Japan began construction of the world’s longest, highest and most expensive suspension bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The episode presents a stage by stage look at the construction of the suspension bridge, and the obstacles faced in its construction, including the Kobe earthquake in 1995.

#11 - Panama Canal Unlocked

Season 2006 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/19/2006

#12 - World's Biggest Shredder

Season 2013 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/20/2013

This metal-chomping monster takes up the floor space of an entire factory and it can reduce the equivalent of 450 cars an hour to little more than pulp.

#13 - Future Trains

Season 2007 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/9/2007

The world's first electromagnetic levitation train linking Shanghai's airport and financial district offers a safe, energy efficient transport system that could change the face of 21st century travel.

#14 - World's Fastest Rollercoaster

Season 2012 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/27/2011

Formula Rossa - The ultimate speed roller coaster is part of the world's largest indoor theme park - Ferrari World on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. This awe-inspiring ride takes you from 0 to 240 km/h in under 5 seconds. You can feel mind-blowing acceleration like in a Formula One car. Follow construction manager Andreas Granig and his team as they struggle against aggressive conditions in the desert environment and build up a power system which is unseen in the world. 20,800 horsepower propels the F1 Ferrari inspired coaster train to a height of 52 m and lets it run through more than 2km of humps, curves and camelbacks. See the dramatic installations 50 meters above ground. In their quest for speed the engineers overcome heat and danger to take the title for the fastest roller coaster in the world.

#15 - Impossible Bridges: Greece

Season 2006 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/2/2006

#16 - Skyscraper in the Round

Season 2010 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/11/2010

Uncover how Abu Dhabi's extraordinary Aldar HQ skyscraper, in the form of a circle sitting on its edge, came to be built.

#17 - Garbage Mountain

Season 2006 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/1/2006

NGC steps into the world of garbage in California's Puente Hills landfill, America's biggest landfill, to uncover the inner-workings at LA's filthiest suburb.

#18 - Sea Launch

Season 2005 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/3/2005

A satellite delivered by a rocket that is launched from the earth’s equator instead of any other place, can have its lifespan extended for as much as 3 years. This would mean huge savings for the companies that own these satellites. Thus the Sea Launch was constructed. The Sea Launch is made up of 2 megastructures, a floating launch pad called the Odyssey and a shipping vessel called the Commander. The episode gives a brief history of the construction, the successes and the failures of the Sea Launch.

#19 - Ekati Diamond Mine (Diamond Diggers)

Season 2005 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/27/2005

#20 - Apache Helicopter

Season 2006 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/13/2006

The Apache helicopter, a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter, is assembled at the Boeing IDS plant in Mesa, Arizona.

#21 - The Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi

Season 2011 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/28/2011

#22 - Dubai's Dream Palace

Season 2007 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/25/2007

Megastructures heads to the tiny desert kingdom of Dubai to explore the remarkable engineering behind the seven-star Burj Al-Arab Hotel. Five years in the making, this striking building stands like a gigantic white sail off the shore of Dubai. As this programme reveals, a refusal to compromise on the part of the hotel’s young designers ensured that the project pushed the boundaries of design. The Burj Al-Arab was envisaged by Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as a means of diversifying the country’s economy away from oil into tourism. The Sheikh dreamt of a luxury hotel that would put Dubai on the world map, and surprised many by choosing a relatively inexperienced British firm to supply the design.

#23 - World Island Wonder

Season 2007 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/30/2007

Engineers in Dubai must overcome obstacles as they construct a chain of 300 islands shaped to resemble the world.

#24 - Impossible Build

Season 2008 - Episode 17 - Aired 9/3/2008

#25 - Beijing Olympic Stadium (Building Green Beijing)

Season 2008 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/5/2008

2010 environmental improvement plan in Beijing, China