285 pages In the world of civil engineering and construction, the book Concrete: Building the Foundations of Modern Civilization stands as an indispensable and comprehensive guide to the versatile and enduring material that has shaped the modern world. This meticulously researched and expertly crafted volume delves into every aspect of concrete, from its historical origins to its cutting-edge applications in seismic design, sustainability, and cultural heritage preservation. Key Features: Historical Journey: Embark on a captivating historical journey through the evolution of concrete, tracing its roots from ancient mud bricks to the grandeur of Roman engineering. Explore how the Renaissance rekindled interest in concrete and how innovative minds in the 18th and 19th centuries laid the foundation for modern concrete technology. Science and Formulas: Delve into the mathematics and formulas that underpin concrete production, design, and structural engineering. Gain a deep understanding of the calculations involved in mixing concrete, determining loads, and optimizing structural elements. Seismic and Structural Engineering: Navigate the intricate world of concrete seismic engineering and structural design. Learn about the principles of strength, ductility, and load combinations that are fundamental to designing earthquake-resistant structures. Explore seismic analysis methods, dynamic analysis techniques, and mathematical calculations essential for safeguarding buildings in earthquake-prone regions. Material Properties: Uncover the physical and chemical properties of concrete, from its strength and durability to density, porosity, and thermal behavior. Discover how concrete's properties are interconnected and balanced to meet specific project requirements. Environmental Considerations: Examine concrete's role in sustainable construction practices, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. Explore case studies of innovative projects that exemplify responsible concrete use. Cultural Heritage: Explore the intersection of concrete with cultural heritage preservation. Dive into case studies of iconic landmarks and historic structures that showcase the delicate art of restoring and maintaining concrete heritage. Ethical and Social Considerations: Reflect on the ethical dimensions of concrete construction, including labor and safety practices, community engagement, sustainable sourcing, and cultural sensitivity. Explore case studies that illustrate best practices in these areas. Concrete: Building the Foundations of Modern Civilization is a meticulously researched and elegantly written work that caters to professionals, students, and enthusiasts alike. Whether you're a seasoned engineer seeking to deepen your knowledge or a newcomer to the world of concrete, this book offers a captivating and informative journey through the material that has shaped our cities and societies for millennia. From the foundations of knowledge to the heights of innovation, it's a concrete exploration like no other. # Chapter 1: Introduction to Concrete Section 1: The Origins of Concrete Concrete's historical roots and early developments. Section 2: Composition of Concrete Detailed analysis of concrete's ingredients and their roles. Section 3: Properties of Concrete A thorough examination of concrete's physical and chemical properties. Section 4: Applications of Concrete Concrete's versatility in construction projects around the world. # Chapter 2: Concrete Manufacturing Section 1: Mixing and Batching Exploring the process of mixing concrete ingredients. Section 2: Curing and Setting Understanding how concrete solidifies and strengthens. Section 3: Reinforcement Techniques An overview of reinforcement methods for added strength. Section 4: Sustainable Concrete Eco-friendly approaches to concrete production. # Chapter 3: Concrete Testing and Quality Control Section 1: Laboratory Testing In-depth analysis of concrete quality through lab tests. Section 2: Non-Destructive Testing Methods to assess concrete without damaging structures. Section 3: Quality Standards International standards for ensuring concrete durability. Section 4: Preventing Concrete Failures Strategies to avoid common concrete-related problems. # Chapter 4: Structural Design with Concrete Section 1: Structural Mechanics The principles of designing concrete structures. Section 2: Formwork and Molding Creating molds for various concrete shapes and sizes. Section 3: Prestressed Concrete Innovative techniques for enhancing concrete's load-bearing capacity. Section 4: Architectural Concrete Using concrete as an aesthetic element in architecture. # Chapter 5: Advances in Concrete Technology Section 1: Self-Healing Concrete Cutting-edge research on concrete that repairs itself. Section 2: High-Performance Concrete The development of ultra-strong and durable concrete types. Section 3: 3D Printing with Concrete Revolutionizing construction through 3D printing technology. Section 4: Smart Concrete Concrete embedded with sensors for real-time monitoring. # Chapter 6: Concrete in Infrastructure Section 1: Bridges and Highways Concrete's role in building sturdy transportation networks. Section 2: Dams and Reservoirs Applications of concrete in water management projects. Section 3: Skyscrapers and Tall Buildings Challenges and innovations in building with concrete at great heights. Section 4: Underground Construction The use of concrete in tunneling and underground facilities. # Chapter 7: Environmental Impact of Concrete Section 1: Carbon Footprint Assessing concrete's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. ## Section 2: Sustainable Practices Efforts to reduce the environmental impact of concrete. Section 3: Recycling Concrete Methods for reusing and recycling concrete materials. Section 4: Future Sustainability Trends Anticipated advancements in eco-friendly concrete technology. # Chapter 8: Concrete in Extreme Conditions Section 1: Cold Weather Concreting Challenges and solutions in low-temperature environments. Section 2: Hot Weather Concreting Strategies for dealing with high-temperature conditions. Section 3: Seismic-Resistant Concrete Designing structures to withstand earthquakes. Section 4: Underwater Concrete Applications and techniques for working beneath water. # Chapter 9: Concrete in Art and Culture ## Section 1: Concrete in Sculpture Exploring the artistic use of concrete in sculptures. Section 2: Concrete in Architecture Architectural landmarks made of concrete around the world. Section 3: Cultural Significance Concrete's role in shaping cultural and historical narratives. Section 4: Public Art Installations Examples of concrete art installations in public spaces. # Chapter 10: Future Trends in Concrete Section 1: Nanotechnology in Concrete Emerging nanomaterials for enhancing concrete properties. Section 2: Artificial Intelligence in Construction How AI is revolutionizing concrete construction processes. Section 3: Bioconcrete Innovations in concrete that incorporate living organisms. Section 4: Space Exploration and Concrete Concrete's potential applications in extraterrestrial construction. # Chapter 11: Concrete in Transportation Section 1: Concrete Roads and Pavements The role of concrete in road construction and maintenance. Section 2: High-Speed Rail Infrastructure Concrete's importance in high-speed rail networks. Section 3: Airport Runways and Taxiways Applications of concrete in aviation infrastructure. Section 4: Ports and Harbors Concrete solutions for maritime transportation. # Chapter 12: Innovative Concrete Mixtures Section 1: Lightweight Concrete Exploring the properties and applications of lightweight concrete. Section 2: Fiber-Reinforced Concrete The benefits of adding fibers to enhance concrete strength. Section 3: High-Flow Concrete Improving workability and performance with high-flow concrete. Section 4: Colored and Decorative Concrete Using concrete as a design element with various colors and finishes. # Chapter 13: Sustainable Construction Practices Section 1: Green Building Certifications How concrete contributes to sustainable building certifications. Section 2: Energy-Efficient Concrete Innovations in concrete to improve energy efficiency. Section 3: Zero-Waste Construction Reducing waste in concrete construction projects. Section 4: Urban Heat Island Mitigation Concrete's role in mitigating heat islands in urban areas. # Chapter 14: Maintenance and Repair of Concrete Structures Section 1: Concrete Repair Methods Techniques for repairing damaged concrete structures. Section 2: Protective Coatings Using coatings to extend the life of concrete surfaces. Section 3: Corrosion Control Preventing and addressing corrosion in concrete. Section 4: Retrofitting for Strength Methods to strengthen existing concrete structures. # Chapter 15: Concrete in the Oil and Gas Industry Section 1: Offshore Platforms Concrete's use in constructing offshore drilling platforms. Section 2: Oil Well Cementing Applications of concrete in oil well construction. Section 3: Refineries and Petrochemical Plants Concrete's role in the infrastructure of these facilities. Section 4: Environmental Considerations Managing concrete-related environmental challenges in the industry. # Chapter 16: Concrete in Agriculture Section 1: Agricultural Infrastructure The use of concrete in farms and agricultural facilities. Section 2: Irrigation Systems Concrete's role in efficient water management in agriculture. Section 3: Storage Silos and Tanks Applications of concrete for storing agricultural products. Section 4: Sustainable Farming Practices How concrete supports environmentally friendly agriculture. # Chapter 17: Concrete in Healthcare Facilities Section 1: Hospital Construction The importance of concrete in building healthcare institutions. Section 2: Medical Research Facilities Concrete's role in constructing cutting-edge research centers. Section 3: Infection Control Using concrete to maintain sanitary healthcare environments. Section 4: Patient Comfort and Safety Design considerations for patient well-being in healthcare buildings. # Chapter 18: Concrete in Disaster Resilience Section 1: Disaster-Resistant Construction Designing structures to withstand natural disasters. Section 2: Emergency Shelter Construction Using concrete in the rapid construction of emergency shelters. Section 3: Post-Disaster Reconstruction Rebuilding communities with resilient concrete structures. Section 4: Lessons from Historic Disasters Analyzing past disasters to inform future concrete practices. # Chapter 19: Concrete and Cultural Heritage Section 1: Historic Preservation Preserving cultural landmarks made of concrete. Section 2: Restoration Techniques Methods for restoring aged concrete structures. Section 3: Museums and Cultural Centers Concrete's role in housing and displaying cultural artifacts. Section 4: Indigenous Concrete Traditions Exploring unique concrete practices of indigenous cultures. # Chapter 20: Ethical and Social Considerations Section 1: Labor and Safety Ensuring safe and ethical labor practices in concrete construction. Section 2: Community Engagement Involving communities in concrete projects and addressing their concerns. Section 3: Sustainable Sourcing Ethical considerations in the extraction of concrete materials. Section 4: Cultural Sensitivity Respecting cultural values when using concrete in diverse contexts. Addendum Concrete Seismic and Structural Engineering: Mathematical Aspects

The Real Cost of Insecure Software • In 1996, software defects in a Boeing 757 caused a crash that killed 70 people... • In 2003, a software vulnerability helped cause the largest U.S. power outage in decades... • In 2004, known software weaknesses let a hacker invade T-Mobile, capturing everything from passwords to Paris Hilton’s photos... • In 2005, 23,900 Toyota Priuses were recalled for software errors that could cause the cars to shut down at highway speeds... • In 2006 dubbed “The Year of Cybercrime,” 7,000 software vulnerabilities were discovered that hackers could use to access private information... • In 2007, operatives in two nations brazenly exploited software vulnerabilities to cripple the infrastructure and steal trade secrets from other sovereign nations... Software has become crucial to the very survival of civilization. But badly written, insecure software is hurting people–and costing businesses and individuals billions of dollars every year. This must change. In Geekonomics, David Rice shows how we can change it. Rice reveals why the software industry is rewarded for carelessness, and how we can revamp the industry’s incentives to get the reliability and security we desperately need and deserve. You’ll discover why the software industry still has shockingly little accountability–and what we must do to fix that. Brilliantly written, utterly compelling, and thoroughly realistic, Geekonomics is a long-overdue call to arms. Whether you’re software user, decision maker, employee, or business owner this book will change your life...or even save it.

There are many examples of technology and beliefs appearing decades—even centuries before they supposedly originated. The Apollo Program was outlined a century before it happened. A painting from the Middle Ages shows a flying toy helicopter. We’ve found ancient Greek computers and heard stories of Roman death rays. The Pacific Front of World War II was described 16 years before the war started. The existence and documentation of these and many other events and anomalies impossibly ahead of their time are beyond dispute. Out of Place in Time and Space delves deeply into these impossibilities, showcasing: Objects, beliefs, and practices from the present that show up in the past, long before they were supposedly invented. Personal careers that appear to have been founded on knowlege of the future. Roman-era machines that were hundreds of years ahead of their time UFOs, never officially documented in any time period, yet still showing up in medieval paintings.

The period between 1867 and 1914 remains the greatest watershed in human history since the emergence of settled agricultural societies: the time when an expansive civilization based on synergy of fuels, science, and technical innovation was born. At its beginnings in the 1870s were dynamite, the telephone, photographic film, and the first light bulbs. Its peak decade - the astonishing 1880s - brought electricity - generating plants, electric motors, steam turbines, the gramophone, cars, aluminum production, air-filled rubber tires, and prestressed concrete. And its post-1900 period saw the first airplanes, tractors, radio signals and plastics, neon lights and assembly line production. This book is a systematic interdisciplinary account of the history of this outpouring of European and American intellect and of its truly epochal consequences. It takes a close look at four fundamental classes of these epoch-making innovations: formation, diffusion, and standardization of electric systems; invention and rapid adoption of internal combustion engines; the unprecedented pace of new chemical syntheses and material substitutions; and the birth of a new information age. These chapters are followed by an evaluation of the lasting impact these advances had on the 20th century, that is, the creation of high-energy societies engaged in mass production aimed at improving standards of living.

Although the last two generations have seen an enormous amount of attention paid to advances in electronics, the fact remains that high-income, high-energy societies could thrive without microchips, etc., but, by contrast, could not exist without steel. Because of the importance of this material to comtemporary civilization, a comprehensive resource is needed for metallurgists, non-metallurgists, and anyone with a background in environmental studies, industry, manufacturing, and history, seeking a broader understanding of the history of iron and steel and its current and future impact on society. Given its coverage of the history of iron and steel from its genesis to slow pre-industrial progress, revolutionary advances during the 19th century, magnification of 19th century advances during the past five generations, patterns of modern steel production, the ubiquitous uses of the material, potential substitutions, advances in relative dematerialization, and appraisal of steel's possible futures, Still the Iron Age: Iron and Steel in the Modern World by world-renowned author Vaclav Smil meets that need. - Incorporates an interdisciplinary discussion of the history and evolution of the iron- and steel-making industry and its impact on the development of the modern world - Serves as a valuable contribution because of its unique perspective that compares steel to technological advances in other materials, perceived to be important - Discusses how we can manufacture smarter rather than deny demand - Explores future opportunities and new efforts for sustainable development in the industry

A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. "I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years. —Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the Year Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows—ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity—for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts—from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

A finalist for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award The gripping story of the most important overlooked commodity in the world--sand--and the crucial role it plays in our lives. After water and air, sand is the natural resource that we consume more than any other--even more than oil. Every concrete building and paved road on Earth, every computer screen and silicon chip, is made from sand. From Egypt's pyramids to the Hubble telescope, from the world's tallest skyscraper to the sidewalk below it, from Chartres' stained-glass windows to your iPhone, sand shelters us, empowers us, engages us, and inspires us. It's the ingredient that makes possible our cities, our science, our lives--and our future. And, incredibly, we're running out of it. The World in a Grain is the compelling true story of the hugely important and diminishing natural resource that grows more essential every day, and of the people who mine it, sell it, build with it--and sometimes, even kill for it. It's also a provocative examination of the serious human and environmental costs incurred by our dependence on sand, which has received little public attention. Not all sand is created equal: Some of the easiest sand to get to is the least useful. Award-winning journalist Vince Beiser delves deep into this world, taking readers on a journey across the globe, from the United States to remote corners of India, China, and Dubai to explain why sand is so crucial to modern life. Along the way, readers encounter world-changing innovators, island-building entrepreneurs, desert fighters, and murderous sand pirates. The result is an entertaining and eye-opening work, one that is both unexpected and involving, rippling with fascinating detail and filled with surprising characters.