Engineering the City: How Infrastructure Works

How would you like to live in a house that faced a dirt (or mud) road, had no electricity, and where it was commonplace to throw your sewage and garbage out of the window and into the street? Ewww to most of us, that's disgusting, but if you lived in Paris or London hundreds of years ago, you and your neighbors would think this was pretty normal. We, on the other hand can almost take our comforts of life for granted, thanks to the intricate network of infrastructure that brings us fresh water, takes away waste water, gives us roads to drive on, and brings electricity to our homes. This fascinating book takes a look back through history at how each of these infrastructural components evolved, and how they are utilized today in cities and towns. Along the way, activities are included so students can see for themselves the scientific principles and properties that allow these systems to work and serve so many people. In ten chapters, readers will learn about water and its availability, water transportation, irrigation, roads, railroads, bridges, electrical and phone lines, water sanitation, garbage collection, and pollution. For example, in the chapter on water, students will learn about the different methods people have used to bring water to our homes, including wells, aqueducts, water towers, and water pipes. The experiments in this section include: finding a centerline to see how difficult it was for early engineers to build straight tunnels; seeing how water pressure shapes conduits, and discovering how a siphon works. Additional extension activities are include researching where your own water comes from, comparing our water systems with the workings of the human body and drawing a timeline to see the development of water availability systems. For anyone who's ever been curious about what a city looks like underground, or who's wondered where the water goes after it is sucked down the drain, this book offers some fascinating answers. - Jess