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UPDATE: Most of the Engineering Library's DVDs are now held at the Fine Arts library. You can check them out in person at the Fine Arts library circulation desk, or click on the REQUEST button via the catalog record. When you submit your request, you can select any library location for pickup. If you need help please contact the Engineering Library.
- Amazing: The Rebuilding of the MacArthur Maze
- A half-hour television special which tells the remarkable story of the fiery collapse and rebuilding (in only 26 days) of a key connector in the Bay Area’s MacArthur Maze, where three major freeways meet just east of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
- DVD 8473
- Biowaste
- Examines the ways that hazardous materials can be made into valuable resources. Examples include the transformation of agricultural waste into biofuel, and the use of human bodies in the field of forensic anthropology.
- DVD 7166
- Garbage
- Examines how garbage is processed and recycled. Examples include turning water bottles into blankets and curbside trash into electricity.
- DVD 7168
- Oil Rigs
- Presents a thought-provoking dilemma in human existence involving oil and gas. This documentary examines unique challenges the human race faces with regard to the oil & gas platforms that are built to last against the world's most horrific natural disasters and cost more than an arm and a leg to deconstruct. The film also discusses renewable energy sources.
- DVD 7643
Discovery Channel's series on adventurous, monstrous and sometimes outlandish engineering projects, including the plans for a tunnel that runs across the Atlantic Ocean, and Tokyo's seemingly impossible mile-high sky city project.
- Boston's Big Dig
- Boston's infamously aggravating traffic inspired a plan to build a highway 120 feet under the city, running above and below subway lines. This is a documentary of the $14 billion "Big Dig" in process.
- DVD 3224
- Bridging the Bering Strait
- The Bering Strait may once again be passable by land, this time over concrete. If built, the bridge would span 55 miles of turbulent and icy ocean and provide a passageway automobile and train traffic, as well as pipelines for oil, gas and electricity. This documentary looks at the plans for the bridge and at engineers trying to solve forecasted problems.
- DVD 3225
- Building Hong Kong's Airport
- When Hong Kong outgrew its downtown airport, the city decided to build one 16 miles off the coast by merging two islands and constructing a network of highways and tunnels to reach it. The terminal itself ranks as the largest enclosed space in the world, and the entire structure makes for a breathtaking view. This documentary examines the construction of what has been called the largest civil engineering project in history, with footage and interviews with engineers.
- DVD 3229
- City in a pyramid
- Overpopulation is driving a plan to build a kilometer-high pyramid in Tokyo Bay that will house 750,000 people in suspended skyscrapers and will be constructed by robots. There's a lot to explore in these plans.
- DVD 3226
- Container Ships
- A look at the plans for a remarkably tremendous container ship, which when finished by its Danish shipbuilders, will be the largest and most innovative of its kind and will appear like a skyscraper floating at sea. It will be powered by a 93,000-horsepower diesel engine, the largest in the world.
- DVD 3223
- Cooper River Bridge
- The Cooper River bridge is the largest cable-stayed bridge in North America. The eight-lane bridge runs 1,546 feet and connects Charleston, South Carolina, to the neighboring town of Mt. Pleasant. What makes the bridge even more remarkable is its imperiled position in hurricane alley and its proximity to huge container ships. This documentary looks at the hurried last stage of construction, when hurricane season loomed dangerously.
- DVD 3305
- Excavators
- Follow a mining company in Minnesota as they struggle to meet a sudden upswing in global demand for iron. Their smaller, older equipment is no longer sufficient, so they've commissioned a custom built "super shovel," a $10 million piece of cutting-edge equipment.
- DVD 4685
- Holland's Barriers to the Sea
- Because Holland is mostly below sea level and has been plagued throughout its history by flooding and destruction from sea storms, the country has produced some of the most innovative technology and design to provide for dry land. This documentary explores Holland's newest structures, with the amazingly complex computer-controlled dams of Delta Works and the Measlandkering, a giant sea surge barrier with 1000-feet long hydraulic-powered arms that can be shifted when the weather requires it.
- DVD 3228
- Iceland Tunnels
- A project to carve, out of solid rock, 45 miles of tunnel in the upper regions of Iceland in order to turn ice into electricity. The project calls for the world's most experienced and knowledgeable tunnel diggers and immense tunnel boring machines to drill through hundreds of feet of earth each day in the face of the constant threat of collapse or fire.
- DVD 3304
- Oakland Bay Bridge
- A look at the quest to build a new two-mile-long, earthquake-proof bridge that connects San Francisco and Oakland. The construction project—the largest in Californian history—is behind schedule, because of the enormity of the problems needed to be addressed.
- DVD 4734
- Offshore Oil Platforms
- In order to withstand the tropical storms and hurricanes of the Texas gulf, engineers have had to tweak and build upon the original oil rig design. This documentary provides a look at the construction and installation of a tarzan class rig, the only class capable of withstanding a hurricane. This "jack-up" rig is equipped with motors that can drill into the ocean floor and push the platform above the ocean waves.
- DVD 4686
- Subways in America
- New York City's extensive and historic subway system, which carries more than a third of all mass transit passengers in the entire country, is undergoing a complete overhaul to make it the most advanced in the world. On top of the enormity of this project is the complication of having the subway remain open while work is underway.
- DVD 3222
- Tokyo's Sky City
- A mile-high building, housing 100,000 residents, may be built in Tokyo in order to house a growing population on a land-shrinking island. The building will be like a city, with parks, homes, schools and offices. The architects have drawn an impressive plan, but it's up to the engineers now to figure out how it all will be built, while still being able to withstand an earthquake, typhoon or fire.
- DVD 3302
- Trans-Atlantic Tunnel
- An ambitious plan for linked tunnels that will float across the 2,100 miles from Canada to Scotland, carrying magnetically levitated trains that run 300mph, reducing the trip across the Atlantic to under 7 hours. Before this comes to fruition, however, engineers have to figure out how to deal with ocean currents strong enough to bend the tunnels and strategize for possible mid-ocean derailments.
- DVD 3230
- Tunneling Under the Alps
- When finished, the AlpTransit Tunnel will be, at more than 56 miles, the longest tunnel in the world. This documentary looks at the tunnel work in progress: a fastidious, laser-guided carving out of rock beneath the massive Alp mountains, where threats of cave-ins, floods, explosions and implosions always loom.
- DVD 3227
- Widening the Panama Canal
- As bigger ships are being built, more are being turned away from the Panama Canal simply because they are too wide. Wider canals may be built in Mexico or Colombia, adding even more incentive for the Panama Canal to be widened. The project, however, is not a simple one, neither in design nor construction, and workers must deal with the treacherous mountain terrain and possible mud slides.
- DVD 3303
Part of the History Channel's Mega Disasters series, these episodes offers the worst-case scenario of hypothetical disasters. The programs challenges viewers with the "what if" possibilities.
- Mega Drought
- This show treats the worst-case scenario of drought and the critical role of water supply—how it can drastically impact on social, economic instability and survival clash.
- DVD 7386
- Oil Apocalypse
- This show features the worst-case scenario where oil runs out and the world falls into the "DEPRESSION" era. We depend on oil in virtually every area of our life, from making a trip to a grocery store to the economy.
- DVD 7163
This popular History Channel series reveals the stories behind familiar tools and material such as steel, metal, earthmovers and cranes, as well as the impressive items they have been used to create, such as the Grand Coulee dam, bullet trains and the Golden Gate bridge.
- America's highways
- The history and impact of highways in the U.S., from the first in 1912, lined with rock and spearheaded by a headlight manufacturer trying to promote private car use, through Eisenhower's plan for an interstate highway for national defense, an effort that was finally completed in 1984.
- DVD 3349
- American Steel: Built to Last
- A look at steel and how its wide and impressive use is entwined with American history and image.
- DVD 3533
- Apollo 13
- A documentary of the famous, movie-inspiring space mission that was saved from disaster by urgent ground and space teamwork at NASA.
- DVD 3892
- Army Corps of Engineers
- The story of the sometimes controversial group of military and civilian engineers and scientists that has been building transformative projects at home and abroad, in peace and in war, for more than 200 years.
- DVD 3348
- Bridges
- A fascinating history of bridges, from the magnificent aqueducts built by the Roman empire, to the record-breaking suspension bridge recently finished in Japan, with a look at other famous bridges (London, Sydney Harbor, Golden Gate) along the way.
- DVD 3886; DVD 7156 DISC 12
- Bullet Trains
- A showcase of ultra-high-speed train travel in Japan, the American northeast and Europe, with trains that can rival the convenience of air travel, plus a forecast of even faster trains that use magnetic levitation.
- DVD 3889
- Cranes
- A documentary on cranes, simple and complex, and what they can accomplish, from building the pyramids in ancient Egypt to fixing the exterior of the space station during travel.
- DVD 3345
- Crude
- The documentary about the 160-million-year history of crude that will answer many questions we have regarding its origin, components of its entity, etc. This show examines the relationship between geology, economy and the environment.
- DVD 7164
- Earth Movers: The Power to Move Mountains
- An exploration of heavy, powerful equipment used currently for construction of large projects, with a history of the biggest names in the field, including John Deere and Caterpillar.
- DVD 3888
- George Washington Bridge
- When opened on October 25, 1931, the George Washington Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. At 3,500 feet in length, the main span was more than double the distance of the previous record holder. Today, standing as a main traffic artery between Manhattan and New Jersey, the bridge referred to by locals as the "GW" is the busiest in the world carrying nearly 320,000 cars every day. The documentary examines the construction methods employed that made the bridge an anomaly, coming in both under budget and ahead of schedule, and see why the GW is distinguished in a city of great bridges.
- DVD 7642; DVD 7156 DISC 12
- Golden Gate Bridge
- A history of what is arguably America's most famous bridge. The bridge was long thought doomed to failure because it spans a bay seemingly too wide and turbulent. This documentary contains footage of the spectacular bridge's construction.
- DVD 3529
- Grand Coulee Dam
- The story of construction of the Columbia River's massive dam in Washington state, the world's largest. The project began during the Great Depression and encountered many problems, provoking much engineering ingenuity. This documentary shows rare footage of the dam's construction.
- DVD 3891
- Hadrian's Wall
- A look at the rich history behind this 74-mile marker of the Roman empire, which has survived mysteriously well for thousands of years in Northern England and continues to provide researchers with historical and engineering insight.
- DVD 3890
- Ice Breakers
- Ice Breakers are specialized ships used to cut through large slabs of ice. This documentary explores ice breakers in current use and details how these ships have revolutionized marine transport.
- DVD 3893
- Lake Ponchartrain Causeway
- A look at the history and future of the busy and at times besieged 24-mile bridge that connects New Orleans to the rest of Louisiana.
- DVD 3530
- Metal
- An exploration of metals, from the first bronze tools to new metallic materials being designed by molecular alteration.
- DVD 3531
- Niagara Power
- The Niagara power station—down river from the famous falls—was the first to harness the power of flowing water and transform it into electricity for wide distribution. This documentary explains hydroelectric technology and revisits the "War of the currents," the feud between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison over alternating and direct current (AC vs. DC).
- DVD 3347
- The Oakland Bay Bridge
- Relates the history of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. One of the greatest engineering feats of all time, construction began in 1932 and finished in 1936, ahead of schedule and under budget. Eight and a quarter miles in length, it bears more daily traffic than any other bridge in the world. Its construction had a profound effect on economic development and population patterns in the Bay Area.
- DVD 7641
- Overseas Highway
- The southernmost leg of Highway 1 links Miami and Key West, runs 120 miles, and once included 42 bridges (many have been replaced by wider spans). It runs over so much ocean that it has been nicknamed "the highway that goes to sea." The documentary recounts the history of the highway from its railroad origins to its modern day reconstruction projects.
- DVD 3887; DVD 7156 DISC 14
- Panama Canal
- The story of the monumental yet problematic construction of the famous canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. The documentary starts with an earlier, and deadly, attempt by the French to make the passageway, and details how the U.S., with the prodding of Theodore Roosevelt's wish for increased U.S. foreign power, pushed past problems of disease, water and earth to finish the project in 1914.
- DVD 3528
- Quarries
- A look at the explosive activity and immense excavation required to mine rocks, from ancient Egypt to large contemporary quarries.
- DVD 3350; DVD 7156 DISC 14
- Race Cars
- History of the innovations that led to today's technological wonders. Today, race cars tear up the tracks at 300 mph. Computers and space-age composite materials are as much as part of racing as the drivers. They're fast, they're thrilling and they've gone high-tech.
- DVD 7162
- Sports Technology: Equipment
- Examines the contributions of engineering to the world of sports. Go into the labs where today's equipment companies develop their new products, and see how they are tested and brought to the marketplace. Trace the history of the most significant innovations, and see what the future may hold.
- DVD 7165
- Super Highways
- Takes you onsite to see a multi-billion dollar expansion project in Houston, Texas, where a stretch of superhighway is being widened to 20 lanes. Then take a ride atop the High-Five, a 12-story, five-level interchange that's become the latest Dallas tourist attraction.
- DVD 7289
- Racetrack Tech
- Takes an inside look at the science of safety in IndyCar and NASCAR racing. From tires to roll-cages, scientists go behind the scenes and underneath the hood to discover the cutting-edge technology that prevents crashes and enables drivers to survive.
- DVD 7156 DISC 6
- The Autobahn
- Despite the lack of speed limits, the Autobahn is among the safest highways on earth. Take a midnight cruise at 212 miles an hour down the world's most famous freeway to see how drivers are trained—and how roads are monitored to keep accidents to an absolute minimum—in this fascinating look at the legendary German highway system.
- DVD 7156 DISC 6
- The F-14
- Cameras capture the action from inside the cockpit as the sweep-wing fighter, one of the most effective and versatile planes in military history, soars at supersonic speeds. Tells the complete story of this renowned aircraft from escorting Soviet bombers to serving with distinction in the Gulf War and Afghanistan.
- DVD 7156 DISC 6
- The Manhattan Project
- On July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb was detonated in the New Mexico desert and a new era began. In an in-depth portrait of one of the most impressive projects in history, the scientists and engineers behind the world's first nuclear weapon reflect on their accomplishments and its legacy.
- DVD 7156 DISC 7
- D-Day Tech
- Soldiers came ashore by the thousands, pouring from Higgins boats and dropping from the sky. The heroes of D-Day's accomplishments were aided by a host of remarkable devices. Rhino barges, parachuting mannequins and rocket-propelled grappling hooks star in this look at the hardware that helped topple Hitler.
- DVD 7156 DISC 7
- Bullets
- Bullets have been around for 700 years and have gone through much advancement, from musket balls to "safe" bullets that turn to dust on impact. Experts visit firing ranges, where high-speed cameras capture the minutiae of impact, and draw on "smart" technology to offer an in-depth look at the future of firearms.
- DVD 7156 DISC 7
- Space Shuttle Columbia
- On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated in the skies over Texas, killing seven astronauts and marking the catastrophic end to more than two decades of progress. Traces the histories of the doomed shuttle and the people who built and flew it, from initial controversy to tragic aftermath.
- DVD 7156 DISC 8
- ET Tech
- Three sophisticated probes are sent to Mars to search for signs of life, marking the latest chapter in mankind's long fascination with extraterrestrial beings. This gripping hour surveys the history of this epic quest and shows how high-tech equipment brings the search to the surface of other worlds.
- DVD 7156 DISC 8
- Rubber
- Contained in everything from tires to space shuttles, rubber is one of Earth's most important materials, and nearly all the world's natural supply comes from Southeast Asia. Travels to faraway plantations and inside American factories to explore the surprising history of this vital substance.
- DVD 7156 DISC 8
- High-Tech Sex
- From the box of vibrating bees allegedly favored by Cleopatra to the development of Viagra, technology has long played a role in sexual stimulation. This rousing hour delves into the surprising and racy history of the places where these strange bedfellows meet.
- DVD 7156 DISC 9
- James Bond Gadgets
- Bond is the epitome of cool, and he has the best toys. Takes a sneak peek inside Q's laboratory and travels to the most exotic locations on Earth for the inside scoop on the gadgets no self-respecting secret agent would leave home without, from jet-packs and oil-slick dispensers to guided missiles.
- DVD 7156 DISC 9
- Bathroom Tech
- What did people use before toilet paper? Why do astronauts wear diapers? From the first in-home bathroom in ancient India to the luxurious modern bath, the long history of the most used and least discussed room in the house is here in this fascinating hour.
- DVD 7156 DISC 9
- Distilleries
- Distilling alcoholic spirits is a big business steeped in sacred tradition. From the agave-dotted hills of Mexico to Scotland's venerated copper vats, this film tours the homes of some of the biggest names in liquor to reveal the transformative process that turns humble ingredients into spirits imbibed by drinkers around the world.
- DVD 7156 DISC 10
- Harvesting
- From the first appearance of the sickle in Ancient Egypt, mankind has found inventive ways to get crops from the field to the table. Modern farmers and factory workers give firsthand accounts of how mega-machines have transformed their lives, and engineers offer a peek at the next generation of agricultural technolgoy.
- DVD 7156 DISC 10
- Candy
- Where does the seven billion tons of candy Americans eat each year come from? This real-life Willy Wonka tour to Hershey (PA), the Jelly Belly factory, and other sugary destinations serves up a unique taste of what it takes to satisfy America's sweet tooth.
- DVD 7156 DISC 10
- The Sears Tower
- In a city like Chicago, it takes a lot to stand out. The Sears Corporation was looking to make an impression, and the result was a stunning new landmark. This documentary embarks on the ultimate behind-the-scenes tour of this engineering masterpiece, and shows how it changed the face of urban architecture.
- DVD 7156 DISC 11
- The Chrysler Building
- Once (briefly) the world's tallest skyscraper, the Chrysler Building still inspires awe and wonder. Experts offer rare footage of its construction in this all-access tour of the iconic New York landmark that was home to the Cloud Club speakeasy and is regarded as an Art Deco masterwork.
- DVD 7156 DISC 11
- Twin Towers of the East
- Standing 1,500 feet over Kuala Lumpur, the twin Petronas Towers are the tallest buildings in the world. From the world-class concert hall to the high-speed elevator, this film presents an inside look at the impressive structure that symbolizes the new Asia.
- DVD 7156 DISC 11
- New York Bridges
- Much of the history of New York City can be told through the eighteen bridges spanning its rivers. These architectural masterpieces solved the problem of connecting the city to the rest of the nation, and this hour tells the story of the art and engineering behind Manhattan's lifelines.
- DVD 7156 DISC 12
- The World's Longest Bridge
- Japan succeeded in linking its many islands with the awe-inspiring Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. The longest single-span suspension bridge in the world is both a work of engineering genius and of great beauty. From sketch to opening ceremony, this documentary brings you the entirety of this epic undertaking.
- DVD 7156 DISC 13
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel
- The man-made boundary between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean has been hailed as one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world. Engineers tell the inside story of the project in this comprehensive chronicle of one of the most ambitious engineering projects ever attempted.
- DVD 7156 DISC 13
- Lighthouses
- These beacons of safe passage protected ships and mariners for centuries, but they are vanishing in the face of high-tech devices like GPS systems. This documentary ventures from Ancient Egypt to the world's most dangerous waters to tell the story of these beloved nautical icons and offer an up-close look at the surviving structures.
- DVD 7156 DISC 13
- The Mackinac Bridge
- The extraordinary "Mighty Mac" suspension bridge, with its plunging foundations and soaring towers, spans the strait between Lakes Huron and Michigan. Hear from a few of the men who toiled to make the vision a reality in a top-to-bottom tour of one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the 20th century.
- DVD 7156 DISC 14
Part of the History Channel's Modern Marvel series, these episodes revisit tragic occasions in engineering history. As the History channel puts it, "[w]hether attributable to accidents or the foibles of the ego, engineering mistakes have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history." The programs dissect the damage and causes of well-known disasters, presenting an opportunity to learn from past mistakes.
- More Engineering Disasters
- This program looks at the USS Thresher submarine which, on its test run in 1963, never resurfaced; the collapse of the St. Francis dam in 1928 that lead to deadly flooding in a lower valley; the explosive Vangaurd rocket launch, and the sinking of the Andrea Doria.
- DVD 3526
- Engineering Disasters 3
- Focuses on the Leaning Tower of Pisa; the 1961 SL-1 nuclear reactor accident in Idaho; the fatal voyage of the Soyuz 11 cosmonauts; the collapse of Texas tower 4, an air force radar surveillance tower; and the disappointing fate of NASA’s much championed Mars polar lander.
- DVD 3346
- Engineering Disasters 4
- Examines the deadly design flaws that have taught engineers to improve the safety of cars, planes and highways: From a sinking bridge in Seattle, to the world's first commercial jet disaster.
- DVD 7156 DISC 1
- Engineering Disasters 5
- Examines how an entire lake and the surrounding land are sucked into a Louisiana salt mine and a California freeway meets a large earthquake, before going inside the belly of the doomed Exxon Valdez.
- DVD 7156 DISC 1
- Engineering Disasters 6
- Takes an in-depth look at some of the most controversial engineering failures of the modern era: From the long, deadly development of the Harrier "jump jet" to computer glitches that almost started a nuclear war.
- DVD 7156 DISC 1
- Engineering Disasters 7
- In this episode, a 40-year-old fire still burns in an abandoned mine beneath the streets of Centralia (PA), two hundred sixty million gallons of water surge through a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood, a passenger plane shakes itself apart and a freighter ship topples a Tampa Bay bridge.
- DVD 7156 DISC 1
- Engineering Disasters 8
- Investigates the 1983 collapse of a New England bridge, the sinking of an offshore oil rig, a devastating 19th-century flood in Pennsylvania and the explosion of a jet-fuel plant in Nevada.
- DVD 7156 DISC 2
- Engineering Disasters 9
- Finds out what happens when a runaway freighter ship strikes a riverside marketplace, and witness the aftermath of a British airship disaster and a roof collapse in an Illinois arena.
- DVD 7156 DISC 2
- Engineering Disasters 10
- From the horrifying Union Carbide explosion in India to Stalin's disastrous Siberian canal project, investigators delve into more of the most tragic engineering catastrophes around the world.
- DVD 7156 DISC 2
- Engineering Disasters 11
- In a tragedy of unbelievable scale, experts recreate and examine how 145,000 people were killed during a flood in China in 1931, as well as a mansion that is swallowed by a sinkhole, a dance competition turned deadly and a huge gas explosion.
- DVD 7156 DISC 2
- Engineering Disasters 12
- The dramatic stories behind the infamous Texas A&M bonfire collapse and a Milwaukee drinking water contamination are revealed in this compelling episode, as well as a tank design flaw that contributed to thousands of World War II deaths, and why Denver's airport baggage system turned into a high-tech nightmare.
- DVD 7156 DISC 3
- Engineering Disasters 13
- Attempts to answer questions about why Patriot missiles failed to work, how 7 World Trade Center Buildings crumbled without being hit on September 11, 2001, the toxic waste-filled Love Canal and the Coconut Grove nightclub fire.
- DVD 7156 DISC 3
- Engineering Disasters 14
- A flash flood of molasses, a massive oil tanker explosion and a terrifying subway cave-in are among the disastrous events probed in this episode, utilizing interviews with experts who detail what went wrong.
- DVD 7156 DISC 3
- Engineering Disasters 15
- A devastating flood brings Chicago to a standstill, a terrifying accident traps hundreds in an Alpine tunnel, a Mississippi riverboat explodes and a cockpit warning system malfunction results in a fiery crash in this stunning program.
- DVD 7156 DISC 3
- Engineering Disasters 16
- The series travels the globe for the stories behind Mexico's exploding streets, an Italian mining disaster, an oil tanker run aground off the coast of England and a small Texas town whose children are forever entombed in the ruins of their school.
- DVD 7156 DISC 4
- Engineering Disasters 17
- Record rain in California turns diastrous when a crack in the street transforms into a gigantic sinkhole, a fatal roof collapse at Charles de Gaulle International Airport causes chaos and the flaw behind the plane crash that killed Knute Rockne is examined.
- DVD 7156 DISC 4
- Engineering Disasters 18
- Takes a look at the political pressures that put soliders at risk in the case of the Army's Stryker Light Armored Vehicle, development demands that have forever altered California's landlocked Salton Sea, a labor-saving device which exposed consumers to dangerous levels of radiation and the deaths of three men during the building of the Milwaukee Brewers' stadium.
- DVD 7156 DISC 4
- Engineering Disasters 19
- Probes the stories behind the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, two mysterious Boeing 737 crashes, and one of the least known nuclear catastrophes in U.S. history—a meltdown at a secret government facility.
- DVD 7156 DISC 5
- Engineering Disasters 20
- Investigators reveal how a disregard for safety in the BP Refinery in Texas led to one of America's worst industrial accidents, as well as the unusual events that caused American Airlines flight 587 to fall from the sky and the reasons NASA's Skylab failed.
- DVD 7156 DISC 5
- Engineering Disasters: New Orleans
- As Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, design flaws on escape routes from the city and engineering errors at the Superdome shelter contributed to the nightmare. Join "geological detectives" as they sift through the rubble to expose how the levee and the century-old pump system were a disaster in the making.
- DVD 7156 DISC 5
Special effects experts put urban legends to the test in this popular Discovery Channel series.
- Mythbusters Steel Toe Amputation
- You've heard the warning about steel toe boots: if you drop something heavy on them, the steel inside will chop off your toes. Join the Mythbusters guys as they test this theory, plus a bonus experiment with a soda-powered human rocket.
- DVD 5747
- Tells the dramatic story of the 2007 Labor Day weekend Bay Bridge construction project. During a 3-day closure, the teams demolished and removed a football field-sized bridge, rolled in a new pre-constructed replacement span and finished the amazingly challenging job 11 hours ahead of schedule!
- DVD 8472
- Explosions! Texas City
- Features the worst industrial disaster in American history, which claimed the lives of 567 people. TEXAS CITY EXPLOSION relives the disaster through contemporary accounts and the recollections of people who were fortunate to escape with their lives, as well as the emergency workers called in to prevent the disaster from becoming even worse. The incredible devastation is brought to life through photographs, many of them uncovered specifically for this program. For one terrible morning, the fires of hell took over a Texas town. THE WRATH OF GOD goes back to that fateful day to tell the complete story.
- DVD 7288
- Collapse: Failure by Design
- Explore the flaws of four structures that failed the test of integrity and collapsed: Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington, Silver Bridge in West Virginia, Kemper Arena in Kansas City and the pumping station in Abbeystead Vale. Find out what happens when new materials or unusual designs are used in buildings.
- DVD 9108
- The famous and Academy award winning documentary in which Al Gore details the damage of global warming. It's been called a horror movie.
- DVD 5612
- An entertaining one-hour documentary on the often outrageous and always controversial history and status of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Tragic, frustrating, comical and historic, this entertaining documentary/news special follows the Bridge from its original construction through the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake up to the present day. It recounts the progress, delays, setbacks and politics during the design and construction of a new, safe bridge to re-complete the connection across the Bay between San Francisco and Oakland.
- DVD 8474
Designing a Lawnmower Watch the evolving plans for a new model of lawnmower, from sketches to testing, manufacture and launch. DVD 4315 Designing Toys A look at how different toys are designed and built, from design to manufacture and marketing. DVD 4332 Mission Almost Impossible: Vacuum Cleaner Design & Marketing As the title suggests, an account of a new vacuum model—this one bagless—and its path from design to successful product. DVD 4316
- The corrupt and closely-guarded mismanagement by Enron executives (including Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, later placed on criminal trial) is revealed through such heinous concepts as "Hypothetical Future Value" (a way of reaping fortunes based on false profit projections) and the use of offshore "shell" companies to hide the massive losses that eventually toppled the company (along with the venerable Arthur Andersen accounting firm) and left 20,000 employees jobless.
- DVD 5002
- A Cameron Diaz-narrated documentary about energy use around the world and ways to lessen consumption and use alternate sources of energy.
- DVD 4783
This industry-famous series shows, step by step, the manufacture of integrated circuits and the integration of them into computer systems, from a pure crystal of silicon to assembly of a PC board.
- Silicon Run I, 2nd edition
- An update of the classic Silicon Run documentary, the second edition is an exploration of crystal growth through integrated circuit fabrication, with new footage and technological advances.
- DVD 4774
- Silicon Run II
- Silicon Run II takes up where the fist Silicon Run left off, exploring the steps needed to take a fabricated wafer and convert it into a micro-device that runs computers.
- DVD 4775
- Silicon Run Deposition
- A look at thin film deposition in CMOS fabrication, with a look at the different qualities of the raw materials involved.
- DVD 4777
- Silicon Run Lithography
- In-depth exploration of photolithograpy needed to image and print intricate circuitry plans at the sub micron level.
- DVD 4778
- Silicon Run Etch
- Explanation of different etching processes—dielectric, silicon, and metal.
- DVD 4779
- Silicon Run Implantation
- An in-depth look at ion implantation in the semi-conductor process.
- DVD 4780
- Silicon Run Lite
- A less complicated version of the subjects in Silicon Run I and II, with a basic introduction to crystal growth, circuit design and clean room procedure.
- DVD 4776
- The demand for water grows with our state's population and businesses, along with concern as to how we can keep our water sources plentiful and clean enough to meet this demand. This documentary, by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, takes a look at this important issue, and provides a Texan case study of an issue affecting people worldwide.
- DVD 4717 vol.1
- DVD 4718 vol.2
- In 1996, cars that ran solely on electricity were being sold in California. And then they were gone. What happened to them? This documentary is part murder mystery, one that indicts big oil and car manufacturers.
- DVD 5436
- Oil, the middle east, politics...and George Clooney and Matt Damon. It's controversial and entertaining.
- DVD 4935
- These instructional videos will show you how to hone your communication skills for school, work, and any professional or non-professional setting to improve interpersonal and people skills.
- Basics of How to Plan, Write and Give a Winning Presentation
- Are you nervous when you face a situation where you have to give a public speech? Do you have stage fright? This winning instructional video will guide you step by step to carefully prepare for your public speech or presentation.
- DVD 7263
- Principles of Interpersonal Communication
- You live in diverse cultures and you might find yourself embarrassed and bemused because of your benighted faux pas. You encounter situations where you wish you learned how to communicate with people around you, whether it be at work or at school or at conferences. Would you like to be more competent in a public setting with better interpersonal communication skills? Take advantage of this video.
- DVD 7267 - Engineering Library
- People Skills Series: Presenting To A Group
- Another great communication tool! Almost every job prefers you to have people skills in a professional fashion. Can you present yourself to a group of people competently? Would you like to gain some skills? Come and grab this video!
- DVD 7269
- These instructional videos will help you enhance understanding and gain insight with regard to your textbook material.
- Multimedia Fluid Mechanics
- "...a superb rendition of some of the most important concepts in fluid mechanics"—Applied Mechanics Review
- "...should be regarded as a 'set text' for viscous fluid mechanics courses at the undergraduate or starting graduate levels"—Journal of Fluid Mechanics
- DVD 7580 - Engineering Library
- Understanding Car Crashes: It's basic physics
- "...a first-rate teaching package"—Paul G. Hewitt, the developer of the "Conceptual Physics" curriculum and author of the best selling text book by the same name.
- Griff Jones, an award-winning high school physics teacher, goes behind the scenes at the Institute's Vehicle Research Center to explore the basic science behind car crashes. Using a series of vehicle maneuvers on a test track plus filmed results of vehicle crash tests, Jones explains the concepts of inertia, the relationship between crash forces and inertia, momentum and impulse and a lot more. He shows why speed and vehicle weight are critical elements in the outcomes of car crashes and how basic physics explains why safety belts and airbags protect people in crashes.
- DVD 7583
- Understanding Car Crashes: When Physics Meets Biology
- Examines the impact of car crashes on the internal organs and demonstrates the damage it can cause. It also shows how to keep the bodies of occupants in a car crash safe when physics meets biology.
- DVD 7860
