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01 / 05
Completion of World’s First 1-Km Skyscraper in Sight

New Atlas | Infrastructure

Completion of World’s First 1-Km Skyscraper in Sight

“We now have a completion date for what will be the world’s tallest skyscraper – and it’s coming sooner than you might think. The amazing structure is expected to be finished by 2028 and will rise to a mind-boggling height of 1,007 m (3,303 ft) in Saudi Arabia.

Originally known as the Kingdom Tower and the Mile-High Tower (the latter dropped once it was discovered the ground couldn’t support a mile-high structure), the skyscraper was then renamed the Jeddah Tower but has now received yet another new name, the Jeddah Economic Company Tower – or JEC Tower.

It’s designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, with the former having notable form for being the creative force behind the current world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which reaches a height of 828 m (2,716 ft). To put all these numbers into perspective, the JEC Tower will be over three times the height of the Eiffel Tower, over twice the height of the Empire State Building, and almost twice the height of the USA’s tallest skyscraper, the One World Trade Center.”

From New Atlas.

Yahoo News | Infrastructure

North Carolina Ends Parking Minimums for New Developments

“The next apartment complex, shopping center or mixed-use development built in North Carolina may look a little different.

A new bill signed by Gov. Josh Stein eliminates mandatory parking minimums for most new developments, giving builders more flexibility in deciding how many parking spaces to provide.

For decades, local governments could require developers to build a minimum number of parking spaces based on the size and type of a project. Beginning Jan. 1, that decision will largely be left to developers and market demand.

When new apartment communities, shopping centers and mixed-use developments are built, developers — rather than local zoning regulations — will determine how much parking is needed.”

From Yahoo News.

ScienceDaily | Infrastructure

Satellites Are Identifying Weak Bridges Around the World

“Satellites are giving scientists a powerful new way to watch over the world’s bridges. Using radar imaging, researchers can detect millimeter-scale movements that may signal early structural problems long before inspectors notice them. The study found many bridges—especially in North America—are aging and increasingly vulnerable, but satellite monitoring could sharply reduce the number classified as high-risk. The approach could be especially valuable in regions where traditional monitoring barely exists.”

From ScienceDaily.

Wall Street Journal | Science & Technology

The Hassle-Free Future of Trash Pickup and Recycling

“Urban planners, the refuse industry and cities across the country are reimagining how we manage and dispose of our waste. The New York City Department of Sanitation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among those leveraging artificial intelligence, robotics and electric power to tackle a growing garbage crisis fueled by cheap products and throwaway culture.”

From Wall Street Journal.

DD News | Water & Sanitation

Tap Water Coverage Crosses 81 Percent in Rural India

“More than 15.68 crore rural households – 81% of the total 19.36 crore – now have tap water connections under the government’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

At the time of announcement of JJM, 3.23 crore (17%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections.”

From DD News.