The Spotter's Guide to Urban Engineering BYWhitelaw

by Whitelaw

An illustrated field guide to the technology that keeps our cities and towns working. The Spotter's Guide to Urban Engineering is a useful identification tool to the mysteries of how our cities are built and work.Each spread identifies an example of urban engineering and describes what it is, how it works and why it is there. Annotated diagrams explain the technology, and location maps indicate noteworthy real-world examples. Most importantly for spotters, the book gives advice on how to identify these features and tips on where to spot them.The book covers the main areas of engineering infrastructure. Concise descriptions begin with a brief introduction, a timeline tracing that area's development and a synopsis of facts and figures. More than 300 illustrations and a durable flexibound format allow for easy reference in the field.The book raw materials, including mining, agriculture, waterworks and manufacturingMaking power, including electricity grids, oil and gas extraction and distribution, and renewable energyTransport, including highways, railways, bridges, tunnels, canals and aviationCommunications, including telephone, radio, television, satellites and digital technologyWaste, including sewers, industrial and residential waste management, recycling. The Spotter's Guide to Urban Engineering provides lay readers with a fascinating introduction to the technology that underpins modern life. Those contemplating a career in civil engineering will find the book of particular interest.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Urban Studies, Science, Architecture

Paperback

First published September 27, 2011

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't what I wanted. For reason I thought it'd answer all my questions about the things I see around me in the city that I don't know about. It didn't. Too general? Too British? Not sure what it was. It was alright (typos and editting errors aside), but there is still a hole to fill out there.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was helpful. I agree with the other reviewers here--I imagined it would be better. I did read it from cover to cover (almost dying of boredom while I did so. It's really a reference book to put on your shelf and dip into). It doesn't always do a thorough or clear enough job of explaining how things actually work for the reader to get any sort of real grasp. But it is indeed a start--on many many topics. And in many cases, it does indeed illuminate. There's a lot I see around me that I don't understand and am curious about and it's great to have a book that tackles it all. Let's face it--the task the book sets for itself is huge. The section on sea walls was great. And now I know the difference between a wind mill and a wind turbine. And I understand a whole lot more about the electricity grid and the parts of it I see around me--and how it got to look that way (what were the decisions/modifications that came about as the grid was developing). The section on airport runways is wonderful. And the section on bridges is good. The diagrams on how various energy generators work are useless. Also not so good was the section on highway interchanges--something that was of interest to me. However, I do understand more about the issues involved in highway interchange design. I do recommend the book. It's great visual reference which was my purpose in reading it.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covers too many topics rather superficially. Good production values though.

[Katherine Roesler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading on subjects I don’t know much about, and this was a reminder to look at the world though the lense of engineering and all the infrastructure that adds to our very day lives.