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However, implementing autonomous transportation systems is no easy task, from perfecting the technology to sorting out legal matters. Take a look at these 6 early-adapting cities around the world that have embarked on the road to driverless transportation systems.

Singapore

Last year, the city-state became the first in the world to launch an automated taxi service. While many companies such as Uber have been testing driverless taxi systems, no one has launched a working model yet. Singapore’s autonomous taxi service launched by nuTonomy only has six cars, but the company has plans to have a full fleet of driverless taxis on Singapore roads by 2018. For now, the fleet consists of modified Renault Zoe and Mitsubishi i-MiEV electrics that have an emergency driver at the wheel and researchers who ride in the back to gather data. The service is expected to drastically reduce the number of vehicles on Singapore’s congested roads.

Singapore is the first city in the world to have a running autonomous taxi service. (Source: Auto Evolution)

Los Angeles

After much delay, city officials finally made it legal to test driverless vehicles in L.A. this year, and by 2020, the city could have fully autonomous vehicles operating on its roads. So far, 43 companies such as General Motors, Apple and Uber have testing permits in California, which means that a driver must be at the wheel, prepared to take over in case of an emergency. The Department of Motor Vehicles will finalize the rules and regulations surrounding autonomous vehicle testing in 2018. Autonomous transportation is a sector that will continue to generate much investment, and L.A. was already losing business to other cities in the U.S. due to its regulatory restrictions. With the new guidelines in place, the city can expect to be bustling with startup activity and innovative solutions to its transportation challenges.

For now, L.A. law requires drivers at the wheel of every autonomous vehicle. (Source: Los Angeles Times)

Munich

Germany is home to the most advanced automakers in the world, and in August 2017, German lawmakers drew up the guidelines for operating autonomous vehicles. Under the new guidelines, all autonomous vehicle software must be programmed in such a way that human life will be protected at any cost, over animals and property. Germany’s Transportation Ministry is the first in the world to draw up such guidelines for automated driving, and wide-implementation of autonomous transportation is expected to follow, starting with Munich.

Munich Airport now provides autonomous shuttle services between Terminal 2 and a satellite facility. (Source: Bombardier)

Recently, Munich Airport launched an autonomous shuttle service that links Terminal 2 to a new infield satellite facility with an underground train. The trains are called INNOVIA Automated People Mover (APM) 300 and were built by Bombardier. The train tunnel is 382 meters and will have the capacity to move 10,900 passengers every hour in either direction.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is another early-adapting city with plans to have autonomous transportation up and running throughout the entire city. However, the city’s first attempt at automated transportation ended badly when their automated shuttle bus collided with a semi-truck less than 2 hours after its debut. The cause of the accident was a delivery truck that backed into the bus. The shuttle was equipped with LiDAR sensors to map the roads. It was also fitted with cameras to identify obstacles on its path, and GPS locators for operators to locate the shuttle’s location. Despite the advanced systems, the city learned the hard way it cannot control what others do on the roads.

The truck hit the autonomous bus that didn’t have the ability to reverse. (Source: MBTMag)

China’s Zhuzhou City

Many good things are happening in China in terms of autonomous transportation. Recently in Zhuzhou, an autonomous, caterpillar-like bus was spotted. The Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART), was developed by CCRC, a Beijing-based company that deals with the supply of rail transit equipment. It moves along Zhuzhou roads via sensors and can travel up to 70km per hour on its electric batteries and is expected to cut carbon emissions and ease traffic congestion.

The ART looks like a cross between a bus and a train and glides through the city using sensors. (Source: Curbed)

London

In September, the UK’s first driverless bus was tested in London’s Olympic Park. Interestingly, residents, visitors and tourists were invited to take part in the test runs throughout the month of September, free of charge. Like other autonomous buses, this electric bus navigates the roads via sensors, cameras and GPS maps. So far, the tests have been successful and the city hopes to implement the buses throughout the city in the near future. Take a look at some of the initial reactions.

Going into 2018, companies such as Uber, General Motors and BMW are expected to continue investing in autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing services. As more and more cities fine-tune their regulations and guidelines surrounding such modes of transportation, the world should see driverless transportation options pop up in more places, with fewer errors, providing more sustainable transportation systems.

Cover photo courtesy of Business Insider. 

Apart from music’s biggest night, the Staples Center hosts more than 250 events throughout the year including the games of the NBA’s Lakers & Clippers, the NHL’s Kings, the WNBA’s Sparks, and countless other events. It can host an LA Lakers game one night and in less than 24 hours, it will have transformed into an ice skating rink for the LA Kings (watch the video below to see how it is done). Rolling Stone magazine named it among the top 8 arenas in the US, and it remains one of the top grossing venues as well.

Watch the Staples Center transform itself through 6 events in 4 days.

Obviously a building of this magnitude requires steel in its construction. But a closer look at the Staples Center reveals some unique characteristics that make it stand out among some of the best venues in America.

The Supertruss Supporting the Roof

Most circular arenas and stadiums are built using a ring beam design; however, the Staples Center engineers decided to go with an exposed supertruss in which the structure’s framework is supported by one central truss that supports the building like a spine. At the time of its construction, no other circular sports facility in the nation had used such a design due to the high cost of the steel that had be used for the supertruss.

This supertruss, measuring 64m wide and almost 14m deep and spans the 132m roof with secondary trusses reaching out to connect to the walls. It was assembled in 5 separate sections more than 30 meters in the air, and after each section was complete, the mechanical and roofing systems were installed.

In this short timelapse video, the supertruss can be seen as its spans the diameter of the Staples Center

The Staples Center has hosted the awards show for 17 out of the last 18 years in part due to this roof and its ability to withstand excessive weight demands of up to 175 tons. Staples Center GM Lee Zeidman told Billboard.com that for the first show, he  hired a surveying company to make sure the roof didn’t warp and that the steel didn’t drop. He said, “Nobody had ever done that big of a Grammy show in a building before.”

Strengthening with Shear Walls

To support the Staples Center against the earthquakes that regularly hit the Los Angeles area, contractors needed to increase the structural integrity of the building. PCA, the contractor that made much of the cement foundation, explained that in order to strengthen the perimeter of the main bowl area, they included 4 curved shear walls up to 53m long and almost 49m tall that were used to counter the effects of the lateral load. Also, along the radial lines are 10 more cast-in-place shear walls up to 15m long and 76cm thick. The walls are all supported by large mat style grade beams with cast-in-place ring beams tying the walls together with the precast columns between them. The shear walls and structural reinforcements provide support to the Staples Center and the visitors in the building.

Connecting everything together with steel

In addition to supporting the roof and walls, steel runs throughout the rest of the Staples Center as well.  The concession stands and restaurants are all connected by seemingly endless steel pipes that deliver the beverage of choice to millions of fans, and the ice hockey rink could never be made without the help of pumps and stainless steel piping. Murray Company was contracted for the installation of the sump pump system (for the ice floor), water systems, fuel oil systems, and concession stand piping. They reported using “in excess of 68,000 man hours with a peak crew size of 40 tradesmen” to install the maze of pipes for the Staples Center.

Steel piping runs throughout the Staples Center helping to make sure everything gets where it needs to be. (Photo courtesy of Murray Company)

*Cover photo courtesy of mark6mauno

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Some of these landmarks date back more than 100 years, but they have endured. Go behind the scenes to see how director Damien Chazelle brought these classic buildings to life in the fantastical song and dance numbers of La La Land.

l Griffith Observatory

In La La Land, Griffith Observatory, and the park where it sits, is the setting for some of the more memorable scenes. Mia and Sebastian’s first dance number took place in Griffith Park on a road overlooking the city (see image below), and the observatory can be seen later in one of the couple’s various date sequences.

Sebastian and Mia at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium in the Griffith Observatory. (Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films)

The Griffith Observatory opened in 1935 on land that was donated to the city of Los Angeles by Colonel Griffith J. Griffith in 1896. Sitting atop Mt. Hollywood, the observatory offers views of downtown LA, the Pacific Ocean, and the famous Hollywood sign. Visitors can access exhibitions on astronomy and space while also enjoying access to public telescopes and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium.

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Floyd B. Barlscale)

With construction starting in June 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression, designers found materials and labor were cheap. The concrete structure was supported by a steel structure, while the three domes were raised “by wrapping copper sheets around steel frames.” The observatory has stood the test of time, hosting millions of visitors since its opening in 1935. However, in 2002 the observatory temporarily closed for restorations. The $93 million renovation retained the art deco exterior while updating much of the interior, including the planetarium.

Griffith Observatory (1933), Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Floyd B. Barlscale)

Due to its long history and iconic status in Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory has appeared in many films and TV shows. In addition to La La Land, it can be seen in Rebel without a Cause (1955), The Terminator (1984), and even The Simpsons.

l Watts Towers

During one of the film’s montage sequences, Mia and Sebastian visit Watts Towers – a collection of 17 sculptures made of steel, metal, and concrete reaching heights of over 30 meters. Starting in 1921 and continuing for 33 years until 1954, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia made these sculptures using steel rebar, concrete, and wire mesh. He decorated them using found objects, mostly refuse, such as the green glass from cola bottles, seashells, and blue milk of magnesia bottles.

Sebastian and Mia visited the location where Watts Towers stand. Finished in 1954, the towers made of steel and concrete have stood the test of time. (Photo courtesy of The City Project)

At age 75, Rodia decided to give up on the project and go live with his sister in northern California. The city of LA attempted to have the towers removed due to safety issues; however, the art community convinced them to conduct a stress test first. Steel cables were connected to each tower as a crane attempted to move them from their foundations. The steel and concrete structures held firm with the crane ultimately buckling under pressure – forcing the city of LA to acknowledge their safety and keeping them in place for the public to enjoy.

l Colorado Street Bridge

Sebastian and Mia also visited the famous Colorado Street Bridge, allowing audiences to revisit one of the older landmarks of Los Angeles. Finished in 1913, the Colorado Street Bridge was thought to be the highest concrete bridge at that time. Its beautiful arches sit 150 feet above the Arroya Seco and have provided a romantic setting for many couples.

Sebastian and Mia talk a walk along the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, California. (Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films)

When construction began in 1912, engineers faced several hurdles.  The slopes on both sides were steep and the arroyo bed was seasonally wet; however, engineers created a work-around by curving the bridge 52 degrees to the south and using massive archways to help reinforce the concrete structure.

To support the concrete bridge, the designers used a spandrel construction with support columns holding up the arched ribs of the bridge. In total, over 11,000 cubic yards of concrete and 600 tons of steel were used at a cost of $235,000.

The southward curve of the Colorado Street Bridge can be seen (sometime in the early 20th century). (Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Public Library)

The bridge was used to connect Pasadena to LA, but by the 1930s it was already overrun and insufficient for the city’s needs. After falling into disrepair in the late 80’s, and eventually closed after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the bridge reopened to the public in 1993 after renovations.

Today, the bridge is open to cars and pedestrians. Visitors can come and admire the design, concrete, and steel that have kept this bridge in use for over 100 years.

With award season in high gear, La La Land is poised to bring home quite a few statuettes. Behind the songs, love, and heartbreak sits the city of Los Angeles bathed in bright lights and decorated with some of the most beautiful buildings of 20th century America. Thanks to the steel holding them together, these structures have endured time, earthquakes, and multitudes visitors.

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Determined to swiftly construct what was the “most ambitious government-sponsored engineering project ever undertaken in the US” at that time, Crowe immediately got to work in March 1931. Working alongside him was Walker “Brig” Young, an engineer representing the bureau. The two planned to build an arch-gravity dam, a structure that curves upstream and directs most of the water against the canyon rock walls, providing the force to compress the dam, and imagined that it would be bigger and grander than the pyramids of Egypt at its completion.

Hurried Beginnings

The first difficult step of construction involved blasting the canyon walls to create four diversion tunnels for the water, utilizing steel forms as sidewalls. Facing a rigid deadline of four months, workers, eager to make money as the Great Depression unfolded, labored relentlessly in 140-degree, carbon monoxide-filled tunnels with little to no clean water. Despite the growing number of deaths among workers, the unrelenting “Hurry Up Crowe” moved forward, determined to beat the deadlines in hopes of obtaining big bonuses.

When two of the tunnels were completed, the excavated rock was utilized to create a temporary coffer dam that successfully rechanneled the river’s path in November 1932. The second step involved the clearing of the walls that would contain the dam. “High Scalers” dangled from heights of up to 800 feet to clear canyon walls, wearing tar-dipped caps as helmets and clenching jackhammers and metal poles to knock loose material, a perilous job that resulted in even more casualties.

In the fall of 1932, one year ahead of schedule, construction began on the power plant, four intake towers and the dam itself. Cement was mixed onsite and lifted high above and across the canyon via aerial cableways. Using this method, a fresh bucket of cement was able to reach the workers below every 78 seconds. This ingenious innovation was yet another reason why Crowe had been granted the contract. Offsetting the heat generated by cooling concrete, nearly 600 miles of steel pipe loops were utilized to circulate water through the poured blocks.

Built with Ingenuity, Reinforced by Steel

As water (which now makes up Lake Mead) began to swell behind the dam, the final block of concrete was poured and topped off at 726 feet above the canyon floor in 1935. Nine hundred-ton steel doors were closed over the mouth of every diversion tunnel, and with that, the Hoover Dam was complete. Then, on September 30 of that year, 20,000 people watched President Franklin Roosevelt commemorate the completion of the awe-inspiring structure.

In the end, about 5 million barrels of cement and 45 million pounds of reinforcement steel had gone into what was then the tallest dam in the world. Altogether, some 21,000 workers contributed to its construction, while 107 died during the process.

The Hoover Dam disseminated the seemingly untamable Colorado River throughout the dry landscape of the Southwest, stimulating the development of major cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Today, it is capable of irrigating 2 million acres and its 17 turbines generate enough electricity to power 1.3 million homes. Deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1985, it sees approximately 7 million tourists annually, and stands as a testimony to the ingenuity of an entire nation.

For more information about the story behind the Hoover Dam, watch the full episode below:

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