Civil Engineering & Construction Videos Hacker News Recommends

explainer#114

Stroads are Ugly, Expensive, and Dangerous (and they're everywhere) [ST05]

Not Just Bikes

“This video from the Not Just Bikes channel shows the stark difference between a street and a road”

12 HN recommenders · 2021–2025

documentary#242

1. How Buildings Learn - Stewart Brand - 1 of 6 - “Flow”

Stewart Brand

“It changed my view of a building from a static thing to a dynamic system, changing over time.”

8 HN recommenders · 2013–2020

explainer#335

What Really Happened During the Texas Power Grid Outage?

Practical Engineering

“The best low-emotion, technically informed analysis of "Snowpocalypse" is probably this one from "Practical Engineering”

6 HN recommenders · 2021–2026

explainer#559

Orbital Rings

Isaac Arthur

“we can build an orbital ring around Earth with today's technology, and it'd be much better than space elevators.”

4 HN recommenders · 2017–2025

explainer#661

Building a Cathedral without Science or Mathematics: The Engineering Method Explained

engineerguy

“I encourage everyone to watch this series of videos.”

5 HN recommenders · 2023–2026

explainer#1013

World's Largest Batteries - (Pumped Storage)

Practical Engineering

“There's a good watch on pumped hydro, and how it is kinda sucky”

4 HN recommenders · 2020–2024

demo#1078

Primitive Technology: Tiled Roof Hut

Primitive Technology

“His videos are a great watch”

3 HN recommenders · 2015–2018

demo#1287

Taipei 101 Damper movement on 12 May 08

phuaalvin

“There's a good video of it moving that gives you an idea of just how colossal these things are”

4 HN recommenders · 2014–2022

explainer#1376

This giant model stopped a terrible plan

Tom Scott

“I learned of this plan via this short Tom Scott video. Fascinating.”

5 HN recommenders · 2018–2026

explainer#1464

Why China Is so Good at Building Railways

Wendover Productions

“Please, I urge you to watch this.”

4 HN recommenders · 2018–2021

explainer#1741

Why Do Reversing Trucks Not Beep Any More?

Tom Scott

“Tom Scott has a fascinating video that describes how this is changing”

3 HN recommenders · 2016–2026

tutorial#1786

EC's Big Announcement

Essential Craftsman

“If you're looking to build a home, do yourself a favor and watch Essential Craftsman's Spec House series”

4 HN recommenders · 2018–2022

documentary#1857

New Earthships capture more energy, water & food at lower cost

Kirsten Dirksen

“this fun video about a net zero desert house”

3 HN recommenders · 2020–2026

talk#1960

The Boring Company Information Session

The Boring Company

“It's worth watching to see what they are proposing.”

3 HN recommenders · 2018–2019

podcast#2002

What It Really Takes to Convert an Office Building to Apartments | Odd Lots

Bloomberg Podcasts

“a good deep dive into why this is not a simple proposition.”

3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026

explainer#2102

Arcologies

Isaac Arthur

“Isaac Arthur's YouTube channel is full of speculation and plans for all kinds of possible or nearly-possible futures”

3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022

explainer#2197

I thought this rotating house was impossible.

Tom Scott

“Tom Scott did a video last year that has a great 3D render of the system”

4 HN recommenders · 2023–2024

explainer#2268

Was Roman Concrete Better?

Practical Engineering

“Here's a good video on the use and tradeoffs of Roman concrete engineering”

4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024

documentary#2479

Building the Moroccan Court

The Met

“Here’s a great video [0][17min] documenting the Met Museum’s commissioning of moroccan mosaics”

2 HN recommenders · 2015–2021

explainer#2525

What is Concrete?

Practical Engineering

“You're going to love this playlist from Practical Engineering [1].”

2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023

documentary#2548

Earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30K

Kirsten Dirksen

“I can't recommend Kirsten Dirksen's channel enough to people interested in architecture, energy efficiency, tiny homes”

2 HN recommenders · 2018–2021

other#2593

Shanghai Tower (650 meters)

On The Roofs

“An absolutely fantastic watch.”

2 HN recommenders · 2015–2020

lecture#2651

Distinguished Lecturer Series: Building Science - Adventures in Building Science

Berkeley Lab

“Presentation on control layer (especially starting around 15m)”

2 HN recommenders · 2019–2021

explainer#2730

Sand Castle Holds Up A Car! - Mechanically Stabilized Earth

Practical Engineering

“Practical Engineering has a great video on this simple but pervasive technology.”

2 HN recommenders · 2016–2026

other#2766

Fred Dibnah How to climb a chimney overhang at 50+

dovecott

“the overhang climb in this is enough to make you feel dizzy”

3 HN recommenders · 2015–2025

documentary#2784

This Swiss Builder uses NO INSULATION...

Matt Risinger

“where Matt Risinger is visiting a Swiss factory where they use wooden (berch?) nails and dowel pins in stead of glue.”

2 HN recommenders · 2019–2020

talk#2810

What Happens When Maths Goes Wrong? - with Matt Parker

The Royal Institution

“It also comes with an entirely different set of interesting stories for anyone inclined to listen”

2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024

demo#2875

Boeing 777 Wing Test

mtthw0

“you might find this really interesting”

2 HN recommenders · 2013–2023

explainer#2908

The 100 Year Flood Is Not What You Think It Is (Maybe)

Practical Engineering

“Grady (of the Practical Engineering YouTube channel) has a great video on this topic”

2 HN recommenders · 2017–2025

documentary#2923

Fred Dibnah laddering a chimney (Part 1)

Matibeos

“there is a great series showing how industrial chimneys made of brick were climbed for inspection and repair.”

2 HN recommenders · 2012–2022

documentary#3097

Underground dome house of the family who led geese to fly home

Kirsten Dirksen

“That entire place is mind-bending.”

2 HN recommenders · 2023–2026

explainer#3100

This high-speed rail project is a warning for the US

Vox

“It's a Vox video, so high level but not a bad intro”

2 HN recommenders · 2022–2023

explainer#3104

The Surprising Efficiency of Canal Locks

Practical Engineering

“this old Practical Engineering video explains with diagrams”

2 HN recommenders · 2023–2024

explainer#3129

Why Everywhere in the US is Starting to Look the Same

Wendover Productions

“Here's a good video on the subject”

2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024

commentary#3156

Infrastructure: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

LastWeekTonight

“John Oliver did a pretty good piece on infrastructure”

2 HN recommenders · 2016–2023

documentary#3171

Are NEW Chinese buildings really FALLING DOWN?

ADVChina

“This video from last year was pretty eye opening to me.”

2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023

explainer#3320

Why North America Can't Build Nice Apartments (because of one rule)

About Here

“I caught a YouTube about this recently that I really enjoyed.”

3 HN recommenders · 2023–2025

tutorial#3367

Blower Door Test

Matt Risinger

“A blower door test is a great measure of a homes energy efficiency and it's quite cheap to have done.”

2 HN recommenders · 2017–2023

explainer#3401

What Really Happened at the Millennium Tower?

Practical Engineering

“Grady also has an excellently made video about the leaning Millennium Tower in SF”

2 HN recommenders · 2022–2023

explainer#3467

Why Are 96,000,000 Black Balls on This Reservoir?

Veritasium

“I thought the engineering at play here was pretty interesting.”

2 HN recommenders · 2019–2025

podcast#3503

Well There's Your Problem | Episode 46 : Five-over-Ones

Well There's Your Problem Podcast

“Here's an enlightening chapter of "Well there's your problem" podcast about this with actual civil engineers”

2 HN recommenders · 2021–2024

documentary#3733

Amazing: The Rebuilding the MacArthur Maze (Documentary)

PECG

“The overpass collapsed on April 29th. They had it reopened to traffic 26 days later.”

1 HN recommenders · 2021–2023

commentary#3770

Commie Blocks Are Pretty Good, Actually

Adam Something

“Here is a fun and a bit provocative/exaggerated video”

1 HN recommenders · 2022–2024

talk#3793

8LU - Are we *really* engineers? by Hillel Wayne

8th Light Inc.

“There was a good talk on this subject last week”

1 HN recommenders · 2020–2025

demo#4008

Fire test: wooden house vs. ordinary house

Paulius Milčius

“This video makes the difference very clear”

1 HN recommenders · 2019–2021

documentary#4020

BBC How They Dug the Victoria Line

Graham W

“And a fun old documentary about the building of part of the underground”

1 HN recommenders · 2017–2024

demo#4032

30-story building built in 15 days! Construction time lapse of J57, Changsha, China.

AI+R

“Super impressive timelapse”

1 HN recommenders · 2012–2015

demo#4084

日本の家作り（据え付け作業）Japan builds house in 1 day

Rachel and Jun

“assembling a modular home in Japan”

1 HN recommenders · 2016–2021