Ancient civil engineering feats

• Main Author: Gan, Siew Ghim
• Other Authors: Fung Tat Ching
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17674
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The vast current existence of great wonders from the ancient world has inevitably provided the need for research in ancient civil engineering feats. The questions of how ancient Man built such marvels, possibly with no machinery or iron tools, and how or why the wonders survive, may arouse interest and trigger the inquisitiveness of people, especially the young ones, to know more about civil engineering. Thus, it serves to inspire young minds to join civil engineering and stimulate interest in the future young generations to become civil engineers. In this report, the discussion on the Roman Aqueducts, Machu Picchu and Trajan's Column in the ancient world will be touched on. These still-standing ancient civil engineering feats are chosen based on the challenges they face and possessions of unique 'interest' elements that set to appeal our target audience. The Roman Aqueduct is investigated, followed by a comparison between Singapore's Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS). The technical aspects of ancient model (Roman Aqueduct) and modern model (DTSS) are compared. Different methods of construction of ancient model (Roman Aqueduct) and modern model (DTSS) are discussed. They predict and display how engineers, then and now, use conceptual ideas and available tools to overcome problems to improve inhabitants' lives. Also, verifications of these distributions and their applications in the field of civil engineering are examined. Factors for the walls in Manchu Picchu to be earthquake resistant and if they are usable today are investigated. The successful erection of the Trajan's Column, weighing over 30 tons and standing at a height of more than 30 meters, by ancient Man with low technology is explored as well.