Scientists are trying to understand how some ancient buildings have lasted for centuries in hopes of making modern buildings more durable.

In the quest to build better for the future, some are looking for answers in the long-ago past.

Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later — from Roman engineers who poured thick concrete sea barriers, to Maya masons who crafted plaster sculptures to their gods, to Chinese builders who raised walls against invaders.

Yet scores of more recent structures are already staring down their expiration dates: The concrete that makes up much of our modern world has a lifespan of around 50 to 100 years.

  • Mangosniper@feddit.de
    24·
    9 months ago

    Also don’t forget about survivorship bias. We don’t know how many percent of their buildings are still standing. Probably only the really really good build ones. Also never forget, any idiot can build a bridge that stands. It takes an engineer to built one that barely stands. And that is often what we are doing today. Making our stuff “good enough” as otherwise it wouldn’t be economic feasible in the short or midterm. I am still curious how good it would be if we would instead aim for the long-term though…

    • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
      61·
      9 months ago

      More ancient buildings have fallen than are standing I’d imagine but I don’t agree that just anyone can built a bridge. I’m not an engineer so I feel really inadequate making an opinion though. I agree 100% it would be very interesting to see how building practices would change if the goal were to construct buildings for longevity. There are lots of considerations though: weather, earthquakes, natural disasters, etc.

    • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      9 months ago

      Another user posted a practical engineering video that I hadn’t seen yet and I heard your exact phrase about anyone building a bridge that stands so mea culpa i didn’t know any better.