Engineering Connections

Watch Engineering Connections

  • 2008
  • 2 Seasons
  • 8.0  (459)

Engineering Connections is a gripping and visually stunning documentary series from National Geographic, hosted by Richard Hammond. Over the course of six episodes, Hammond, along with engineer Stephen Ralphs and Cambridge University professor Hugh Hunt, delve deep into the world of engineering to explore some of the world's most incredible and awe-inspiring creations.

Throughout the series, Richard Hammond travels the world, exploring some of the most iconic engineering feats in history. From the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to an oil rig in the North Sea, the series takes viewers on a journey through the engineering wonders that define the modern world.

What sets Engineering Connections apart from other documentary series is its unique approach to exploring these engineering marvels. Rather than simply examining the technology and science behind each project, Hammond and his co-hosts go in-depth to uncover the true story behind each creation, using a combination of archival footage, computer graphics, and hands-on demonstrations.

One of the series' standout episodes takes viewers to Dubai, where Hammond explores the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Using 3D computer modeling, the hosts break down the intricate engineering and architectural process behind the skyscraper's construction, from the mammoth cranes used to hoist construction materials up the building's facade to the sophisticated systems that keep it standing tall in the midst of high winds and seismic activity.

Another episode delves into the world of transportation engineering, exploring how the rise of the automobile changed the course of history. Hammond travels to Detroit, the birthplace of the automotive industry, to explore how a group of visionary engineers and entrepreneurs turned an idea into a global powerhouse, forever changing the way we live, work, and play.

Throughout the series, Hammond brings his trademark wit and charm to every episode, making complex engineering concepts and dry technical information accessible and engaging. Whether he's clambering up the side of a towering bridge or taking a ride through an underground tunnel system, Hammond's enthusiasm and passion for engineering shine through in every scene.

And while the focus of the series is on engineering and the built environment, the stories behind each creation are ultimately about the people behind them. From the engineers who designed and built these incredible structures to the workers who risked life and limb to construct them, Engineering Connections shows the human side of engineering, highlighting the incredible achievements of those who have dared to imagine what was once impossible.

Overall, Engineering Connections is an engaging and illuminating documentary series that powerfully demonstrates the incredible power of engineering to transform the world around us. From the massive oil rigs that dot the ocean to the towering skyscrapers that pierce the clouds, Hammond and his co-hosts take viewers on a journey of discovery, revealing the true marvels that lie behind some of the greatest engineering achievements in history.

Engineering Connections
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Seasons
Hong Kong International Airport
6. Hong Kong International Airport
October 4, 2009
Hong Kong houses the fifth largest international passenger airport in the world – yet before it was built in the late 1990s, its site was no more than a featureless expanse of water.
Millau Bridge
5. Millau Bridge
October 4, 2009
With its 343 meter-tall pillars, the Millau Bridge linking the roads to Paris and Barcelona dwarfs the Eiffel Tower and is the tallest road bridge in the world. Undaunted, Richard scales this extraordinary structure to discover its engineering connections with nuclear submarines and ancient Celtic boats. He also learns how the bridge could not have been built without Teflon - and a humble gecko helps him to demonstrate.
Guggenheim Bilbao
4. Guggenheim Bilbao
September 28, 2009
Starting life as a mere initial scrawl by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry, Bilbao's illustrious Guggenheim museum is one of the modern cultural world's most breathtaking structures and display spaces. This futuristic structure is made of titanium just 0.5mm thick - but how were its unique curves influenced by Russian submarines, a Hawaiian volcano and Sir Walter Raleigh? Richard heads to Spain to find out.
HMS Illustrious
3. HMS Illustrious
September 29, 2009
The mighty British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is an airport, city and battleship all rolled into one, but what are the secrets behind the design of this floating powerhouse? Landing on the vast deck in a helicopter, Richard learns how Tower Bridge, a boomerang, a hearing aid and an 18th century seed drill all have links to one of the most remarkable ocean-going craft in the world.
Sydney Opera House
2. Sydney Opera House
September 26, 2009
Towering over Sydney Harbor, the famous Opera House is one of the most recognizable and iconic buildings in the world. Richard heads Down Under, takes a stroll along the incredible structure's roof, learns how its unique "sails" work on the same principles as a simple child's collapsible toy, and discovers a bizarre engineering connection with a First World War gas mask.
Wembley Stadium
1. Wembley Stadium
September 26, 2009
Richard kicks off proceedings at Wembley Stadium, the high-tech home of English football. No one can deny the magnificence of Wembley, but how is its towering arch inspired by a medieval crossbow and how did a simple rock climbers' knot help engineers raise it into place? Richard tracks down the answers - and finds out how experts preserved the famous "˜Wembley Roar'.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    May 15, 2008
  • IMDB Rating
    8.0  (459)