Big, Bigger, Biggest (Season 1)
Big, Bigger, Biggest (Season 1) is a four-part documentary series exploring the engineering breakthroughs behind the world's biggest structures - Burj Dubai, USS Nimitz, Japan's Akashi Bridge, and London Heathrow Airport. Each episode explores the engineering breakthroughs that have made it possible to develop the structures of today. Throughout the course of the episode, viewers are introduced to generally six landmark inventions that have enabled the engineers of today to construct the world's biggest structures. Footage of the construction of the world's biggest structure of its kind is accompanied by computer generated imagery which often has an element of black humour. This imagery shows the size of the object in metres, the various designs that may have been considered as well as what could happen if the engineers made a mistake, complete with animated figures running in panic.
| Episode 1 - Skyscraper |
Episode 1 - Skyscraper
This episode looks at the history of skyscraper breakthroughs, culminating in the construction of the 828-metre (2,717 ft) tall Burj Dubai.
Episode 2 - Aircraft Carrier
One of the largest warships in the world, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), would not have been possible if it weren't for seven landmark inventions.
Episode 3 - Bridge
This episode reveals how several suspension bridge breakthroughs made it possible to construct the 2-mile (3.2 km) long Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
Episode 4 - Airport
The London Heathrow Airport is the busiest international airport in the world. This episode follows the construction of Terminal 5, an additional terminal to cater for an additional 30 million passengers.
| Related Links |
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| Building Big This is a five-part PBS documentary series hosted by David Macaulay, exploring some of spectacular structures from Roman times to the modern era. |
| Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections This looks at how engineers and designers use historic inventions and clues from the natural world in ingenious ways to develop new buildings and machines. |
| Seven Wonders of the Industrial World This is a BBC documentary miniseries examining seven epic engineering feats of the Industrial age such as the SS Great Eastern, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Bell Rock Lighthouse. |
| Engineering an Empire This is a History Channel documentary series hosted by Peter Weller, exploring the engineering feats accomplished by some of the great civilizations in history. |
| Ancient Megastructures This is a National Geographic documentary series discovering the secrets of revolutionary structures in ancient megastructures. |