May 17, 2022
China is planning to build a dam without any workers. The Asian country plans to use 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), and robots.
The dam is set to be finished in 2024. The Yangqu Dam would be 590-feet tall. It would be the largest 3D printed structure in the world. The current record holder is a 20-foot building in Dubai. Among dams, it would crack the top 50 in height.
The dam is to be built in layers, researchers said in April. AI is to control driverless bulldozers, paving machines, and robotic rollers, and keep track of the project.
Scientists say this method will stop human error. It will also get rid of safety threats because no workers will be involved.
Once built, the Yangqu Dam is expected to generate 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity yearly.
The project leader said that advancements in 3D printing have changed the technology into one “identical to nature.” He added that the project could become a blueprint for future construction.
Photo by Michael Dziedzic courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
"The Last Winter"
This mural by Dulk in Churchill, Canada depicts desperate and damaged polar bears and whales carrying pieces of their environment essential to their survival over a landscape punctuated by cars.
"What Happened When We All Stopped"
This animated poem, read by Jane Goodall, shows what happened when people slowed down during the Covid-19 pandemic and began to notice nature.
Strengthening the Presence of the Indigenous Peoples of Oregon
In this lesson, students learn the distinct ways of Indigenous peoples, how colonization damaged their lands and natural resources, and generate ideas to repair some of the damage.