From the ancient construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza to the modern innovations of the International Space Station, the international community has witnessed many brilliant achievements in the field of engineering. However, these projects are extremely costly because of the technology involved, and the high quality of production. While the monetary cost of building the pyramids may be unknown, historians do estimate that the greatest cost was in million of work hours from Egyptian slaves. Building the International Space Station may not have required such a high moral price, but it has definitely required a higher dollar cost. Here five of the world’s most expensive engineering products in the modern era:
Big Dig – Boston – $14.6 Billion (US)
Designed to relieve some of the traffic issues and gridlock in Boston, Massachusetts, the Big Dig was intended to reroute the central artery of the city. The design called for a 3.5-mile tunnel to be created below the city’s existing structure, hopefully alleviating congestion. Boston, as one of the oldest cities in America, has streets that were not designed to handle the heavy traffic that grew with the advent of the automobile, and the Big Dig was seen as the most effective method for upgrading the traffic flow through the city.
Unfortunately, the project went off anything but smoothly. Engineers encountered unexpected obstacles such as sunken ships, glacial debris, and the foundations of buried houses during excavation. The project was also hampered by cost overruns, leaks, the use of inferior quality materials, and even some deaths.
The tunnel has faced many crises since its completion, including a fatal collapse of a section of the ceiling. In an ultimate irony, reports have been issued that show that since construction of the tunnel, traffic flow problems have only worsened in the city. It seems that many more people took to the roads rather than using mass transit or other means of transportation, effectively negating any positive impact the project would have on relieving traffic congestion, making the Big Dig not only costly but, apparently, a waste.
Three Gorges Dam – China – $26-$30 Billion (US)
The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River. Located in Hubei province, China, the dam is the largest electricity generating plant of any kind in the world. The bridge boasts 26 generators, each with an output of 700 megawatts, with six more generators scheduled to become operational in 2011.
The dam is considered an engineering and construction success on nearly every level. When it is completed, the project is predicted to come in at 12% under budget. Full cost recovery is expected to take place in only 10 years after the dam becomes fully operational, making the Three Gorges Dam expensive, but a sound investment.
The Large Hadron Collider – Switzerland – $9 Billion (US)
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and highest energy particle accelerator. In September 2008, the LHC was put into operation. The unit faced some almost immediate and repeated complications, but nothing too far out of the realm of what might be expected in a project of such magnitude and in a technology so new.
Physicists have high hopes and great expectations for the LHC, believing that work related to the machine may reveal some of life’s greatest mysteries, such as a clearer understanding of the Big Bang Theory and the formation of the universe. The LHC has recently been in world headlines, as scientists have used it to capture anti-matter for the first time. This achievement is a monumental breakthrough for physicists, and goes a long way to justify the cost of the LHC, and forgive some of its early malfunctions.
The Gerald R. Ford Class Aircraft Carrier – United States – $8.1 Billion (US)
The $8.1 billion price tag for the Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier project does not include the approximately $5 billion spent on research and development prior to construction, making this the most expensive ships in history. Work began on the vessels in 2007, and is scheduled to end in 2015. The aircraft carrier line is currently scheduled to produce three ships, but as many as eleven could be constructed over the life of the program.
The nuclear powered aircraft carriers contain technology unparalleled and unseen anywhere in the world. The ships feature a new nuclear reactor design, advanced arresting gear, electromagnetic catapults, and many other innovations, some of which are classified military information.
The International Space Station – Multiple National Partners – $80 Billion (US; approximate)
Arguably the greatest feat of engineering in the history of mankind, the International Space Station (ISS) is currently being constructed while in low earth orbit. The construction is scheduled for completion in late 2011, and is easily the largest satellite to ever orbit earth. The ISS is even visible from earth with the naked eye.
The International Space Station is the largest research facility ever created. It has been continually manned since October of 2000, and is scheduled to continue scientific research into the year 2020. It is an anomaly in the world of engineering projects, as the ISS has been a joint venture of several nations since inception, each contributing to its research, development, and costs. Ultimately, the construction of this landmark station is justified because of the incredible advancements it houses, and the potential for scientists to study our earth our solar system, and our universe to a degree that past generation have only dreamed of. Its cost also is mitigated by the hope of international cooperation in the name of science and discovery to a new level.