An illustrated field guide to the technology that keeps our cities and towns working. The Spotter's Guide to Urban Engineering is a useful identification tool to the mysteries of how our cities are built and work. Each spread identifies an example of urban engineering and describes what it is, how it works and why it is there. Annotated diagrams explain the technology, and location maps indicate noteworthy real-world examples. Most importantly for spotters, the book gives advice on how to identify these features and tips on where to spot them. The book covers the main areas of engineering infrastructure. Concise descriptions begin with a brief introduction, a timeline tracing that area's development and a synopsis of facts and figures. More than 300 illustrations and a durable flexibound format allow for easy reference in the field. The book covers: - Managing raw materials, including mining, agriculture, waterworks and manufacturing - Making power, including electricity grids, oil and gas extraction and distribution, and renewable energy - Transport, including highways, railways, bridges, tunnels, canals and aviation - Communications, including telephone, radio, television, satellites and digital technology - Waste, including sewers, industrial and residential waste management, recycling. The Spotter's Guide to Urban Engineering provides lay readers with a fascinating introduction to the technology that underpins modern life. Those contemplating a career in civil engineering will find the book of particular interest.

In a visual history of the electronic age, the brilliant innovations of the 20th century are brought to life through art and images of electronics, tracing the advances and practical revolutions in automation, bionics, computer language and cybernetics.

An environmental journalist traces the historical war against rust, revealing how rust-related damage costs more than all other natural disasters combined and how it is combated by industrial workers, the government, universities, and everyday people.

Welcome to the world of drones! Complete customizable with your needs, budget, and sense of adventure. This book will show you everything you could ever want to know about buying and flying your first drones. From getting to grips with the jargon you'll need to speak to other flyers, to how you can design and build your own drone with advanced features like live video feedback and programmable autopilot. You'll even learn how to read a sectional chart (that's a pilot's map-see, you're learning already!) This book is your gateway to the fun (and the learning) that awaits, and it'll keep you safe in the skies too.

With recent advancements in video surveillance that can autonomously recognize people, detect movements, and identify targeted activities in real time, this volume examines the fundamental principles of current intelligent video surveillance systems, their algorithmic design, and system implementation issues, for new and experienced practitioners and researchers, educators, and students. Ma, a research scientist and electrical engineer, and Qian (electrical engineering, Arizona State U., Tempe) compile 17 chapters by electrical engineers, computer scientists, and others working in industry and academia in the US and Europe, who discuss background modeling, object-people detection, and tracking; techniques for activity recognition; multi-camera systems; and applications of intelligent video surveillance systems such as searching for people, soft biometrics, target tracking and geo-localization from an airborne platform, and 3D urban surveillance site reconstruction. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Exploring the role of engineers in transforming and shaping the modern world, the author of The Evolution of Useful Things elucidates the principles of engineering as he looks at such achievements as the English Channel tunnel, the Panama Canal, and the Hoover Dam. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

This second volume of the ­Arduino Project Handbook delivers 25 more ­beginner-friendly electronics projects. Get up and running with a crash course on the Arduino, and then pick any project that sparks your interest and start making! Each project includes cost and time estimates, simple instructions, colorful photos and circuit diagrams, a troubleshooting section, and the complete code to bring your build to life. With just the Arduino board and a handful of components, you’ll make gadgets like a rainbow light display, noise-level meter, digital piano, GPS speedo­meter, and fingerprint scanner. This collection of projects is a fast and fun way to get started with microcontrollers that’s perfect for beginners, hobbyists, parents, and educators. 25 Step-by-Step Projects LED Light Bar Light-Activated Night-Light Seven-Segment LED Countdown Timer LED Scrolling Marquee Mood Light Rainbow Strip Light NeoPixel Compass Arduino Piano Audio LED Visualizer Old-School Analog Dial Stepper Motor Temperature-Controlled Fan Ultrasonic Range Finder Digital Thermometer Bomb Decoder Game Serial LCD Screen Ultrasonic People Counter Nokia 5110 LCD Screen Pong Game OLED Breathalyzer Ultrasonic Soaker Fingerprint Scanner Ultrasonic Robot Internet-Controlled LED Voice-Controlled LED GPS Speedometer Uses the Arduino Uno board Praise for the first volume of Arduino Project Handbook: "Easily the best beginner’s guide out there. Pair with an inexpensive clone-based starter kit, and it’s never been cheaper to join the maker revolution." —MakeUseOf.com "Beautifully designed." —Boing Boing

Presents step-by-step instructions for repurposing a variety of electronic appliances and equipment, including computers, cell phones, and scanners, into other items.