Topics › Engineering, Transport & Making

Best Civil engineering & construction videos, as recommended on Hacker News

55 videos about civil engineering & construction that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2012 and 2026. Mostly explainer, documentary, demo. Channels that come up most: Practical Engineering, Tom Scott, Kirsten Dirksen, Matt Risinger. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is Stroads are Ugly, Expensive, and Dangerous (and they're everywhere) [ST05]: HN links it constantly as the standard introduction to stroads and Strong Towns-style arguments about car-centric design.

• explainerStroads are Ugly, Expensive, and Dangerous (and they're everywhere) [ST05]Not Just Bikes · 12 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• documentary1. How Buildings Learn - Stewart Brand - 1 of 6 - “Flow”Stewart Brand · 8 HN recommenders · 2013–2020
• explainerWhat Really Happened During the Texas Power Grid Outage?Practical Engineering · 6 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• explainerOrbital RingsIsaac Arthur · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerBuilding a Cathedral without Science or Mathematics: The Engineering Method Explainedengineerguy · 5 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• explainerWorld's Largest Batteries - (Pumped Storage)Practical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• demoPrimitive Technology: Tiled Roof HutPrimitive Technology · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2018
• demoTaipei 101 Damper movement on 12 May 08phuaalvin · 4 HN recommenders · 2014–2022
• explainerThis giant model stopped a terrible planTom Scott · 5 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• explainerWhy China Is so Good at Building RailwaysWendover Productions · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• explainerWhy Do Reversing Trucks Not Beep Any More?Tom Scott · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2026
• tutorialEC's Big AnnouncementEssential Craftsman · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• documentaryNew Earthships capture more energy, water & food at lower costKirsten Dirksen · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• talkThe Boring Company Information SessionThe Boring Company · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2019
• podcastWhat It Really Takes to Convert an Office Building to Apartments | Odd LotsBloomberg Podcasts · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• explainerArcologiesIsaac Arthur · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• explainerI thought this rotating house was impossible.Tom Scott · 4 HN recommenders · 2023–2024
• explainerWas Roman Concrete Better?Practical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• documentaryBuilding the Moroccan CourtThe Met · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2021
• explainerWhat is Concrete?Practical Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• documentaryEarth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30KKirsten Dirksen · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• otherShanghai Tower (650 meters)On The Roofs · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2020
• lectureDistinguished Lecturer Series: Building Science - Adventures in Building ScienceBerkeley Lab · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• explainerSand Castle Holds Up A Car! - Mechanically Stabilized EarthPractical Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2026
• otherFred Dibnah How to climb a chimney overhang at 50+dovecott · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
• documentaryThis Swiss Builder uses NO INSULATION...Matt Risinger · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2020
• talkWhat Happens When Maths Goes Wrong? - with Matt ParkerThe Royal Institution · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• demoBoeing 777 Wing Testmtthw0 · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2023
• explainerThe 100 Year Flood Is Not What You Think It Is (Maybe)Practical Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• documentaryFred Dibnah laddering a chimney (Part 1)Matibeos · 2 HN recommenders · 2012–2022
• documentaryUnderground dome house of the family who led geese to fly homeKirsten Dirksen · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• explainerThis high-speed rail project is a warning for the USVox · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• explainerThe Surprising Efficiency of Canal LocksPractical Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2024
• explainerWhy Everywhere in the US is Starting to Look the SameWendover Productions · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• commentaryInfrastructure: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)LastWeekTonight · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2023
• documentaryAre NEW Chinese buildings really FALLING DOWN?ADVChina · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• explainerWhy North America Can't Build Nice Apartments (because of one rule)About Here · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
• tutorialBlower Door TestMatt Risinger · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• explainerWhat Really Happened at the Millennium Tower?Practical Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• explainerWhy Are 96,000,000 Black Balls on This Reservoir?Veritasium · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• podcastWell There's Your Problem | Episode 46 : Five-over-OnesWell There's Your Problem Podcast · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• documentaryAmazing: The Rebuilding the MacArthur Maze (Documentary)PECG · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
• commentaryCommie Blocks Are Pretty Good, ActuallyAdam Something · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2024
• talk8LU - Are we *really* engineers? by Hillel Wayne8th Light Inc. · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
• demoFire test: wooden house vs. ordinary housePaulius Milčius · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2021
• documentaryBBC How They Dug the Victoria LineGraham W · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2024
• demo30-story building built in 15 days! Construction time lapse of J57, Changsha, China.AI+R · 1 HN recommender · 2012–2015
• demo日本の家作り（据え付け作業）Japan builds house in 1 dayRachel and Jun · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2021
• explainerIf these pumps ever stop, part of Germany floods.Tom Scott · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2026
• tutorialPassive House - Fresh Air System Install & Costs (Zehnder)Matt Risinger · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2022
• explainerThe Disaster That Changed Engineering: The Hyatt Regency CollapseTom Scott · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2021
• explainerWhat Really Happened at the Oroville Dam Spillway?Practical Engineering · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2026
• explainerHow Much Is a Human Worth? (according to engineers)Practical Engineering · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2025
• demoHow the pyramids were built in EgyptGeopolymer Institute · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2024
• explainerWhy Railroads Don't Need Expansion JointsPractical Engineering · 1 HN recommender · 2024–2026