Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu represents the culmination of Inca public works building standards and technology, as well as 4,000 years of Andean community development. This landmark is the most well known archaeological site in South America and serves as a destination site for world travelers. It was a royal estate for Emperor Pachacuti.

The construction of Machu Picchu on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes commenced in AD 1450. It was essentially abandoned by AD 1540 after the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish conquistador Pizzarro. The site provides examples of soil stewardship, longevity of public works, use of native stone, permanence of terrace walls, and overall designing with nature. Machu Picchu demonstrates the ingenuity of prehistoric civil engineers who did not have the advantage of the wheel, a written language, iron, or steel.

Machu Picchu represents civil engineering and environmental design in harmony with its environment, along with the use of the design standards of the Inca Empire to create a visually beautiful royal estate. Site preparation and foundation engineering are exemplary, hydrological and hydraulic engineering were thorough, and its urban drainage design sets a standard of care for modern engineers. It is a prime example of early, integrated city planning in the western hemisphere.

Facts

Unique engineering features of Machu Picchu include:
A high standard of care for longevity and attractiveness.
Environmental design in harmony with the natural surroundings.
Urban drainage outlets and channels.
A stabilized ancient landslide
Spring headworks and canal.
Sixteen domestic water supply fountains.
Hundreds of terraces for slope stability.
Subsurface drainage using inverse filters.
Granite stairways to mountaintops.
Solar observatories.
High-status granite stonework.
Stone walls with 10 percent batter for aesthetics and stability.
Inca Trail highway culvert.
Extraordinary city planning.

Castillo de San Marcos

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 07:38:54 +0000

Castillo de San Marcos

(not verified) Wed, 07/25/2012 - 03:38

Society

Main Category

Sub Category

Era

Date Created

Location Country

Coordinates

29.897778, -81.311389

City

St. Augustine

State

Country

USA

Website

http://www.asce.org/Project/Castillo-de-San-Marcos/

The fort was constructed of coquina rock. Unique to Florida, the rock consists of millions of seashells cemented together. It proved highly durable and easily absorbed the force of many cannon balls.

The Castillo de San Marcos was the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States. Originally an outpost of the Spanish Empire, it is the oldest major engineered structure existing in America.

In 1668, pirates attacked the colony of St. Augustine and the Spanish residents were nearly overtaken. In response, Queen Mariana of Spain ordered that a fort be built to defend the colony and to protect Spanish ships.

Over the years, the distinctive star-shaped fort and surrounding moat have served several countries. During the 18th century, the British gained control of the Castillo, but the Spaniards eventually took it back. They remained in control of the fort until the United States purchased Florida in 1821. The Castillo housed confederate troops during the Civil War and served as a military prison during the Spanish-American War. In the 1830s, it was renamed Fort Marion in honor of General Francis Marion, a Revolutionary War hero.

Facts

The fort was constructed of coquina rock. Unique to Florida, the rock consists of millions of seashells cemented together. The rock proved highly durable and easily absorbed the force of many cannon balls.
Oyster shells were heated in kilns during construction to create a lime mortar for the coquina masonry, and the entire fort was coated with a lime stucco.