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I think pretty much everything worth building that could be built and was feasible to build has now been built. There are no more big projects left to conquer,

I think pretty much everything worth building that could be built and was feasible to build has now been built. There are no more big projects left to conquer, barring some massive advances in material science.

basket_horse 9mo ago
Tell that to the New Jersey transit trains that get delayed 15 minutes every time they go in and out of New York.
onetokeoverthe 9mo ago
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jacquesm 9mo ago
Everything, absolutely everything needs maintenance. Even the pyramids won't last forever and if you want your society to be sustainable you need to factor in maintenance. And often times maintenance is a harder problem than the initial creation.
- tastyfreeze 9mo ago
  Maintenance also informs builders on what can be improved next time. For example, we now know that rebar reinforced concrete will eventually need to be replaced due to spalling. If we reinforced with glass or basalt rebar that problem is solved. It might fail a different way but it won't be from spalling. Over time we learn to build structures that last a long time and require less maintenance. Unfortunately, building codes are often very specific. Sometimes requiring specific materials. Using a different material requires proving it is a suitable replacement before construction. We have to allow builders to take risks. Sometimes we get a Tacoma Narrows bridge, sometimes we get a Hoover dam. But, the builders have to be able to try new things even if we get a few stinkers once and awhile.
  - jacquesm 9mo ago
    Excellent points: I learn more from maintaining code than from writing new code.
owenthejumper 9mo ago
That's just as nonsensical as the classic "Everything that could be invented has been invented already." You didn't read the article. It talks a lot about housing, high speed rail. Those are just two things we could be building right now.

basket_horse 9mo ago

Tell that to the New Jersey transit trains that get delayed 15 minutes every time they go in and out of New York.

onetokeoverthe 9mo ago

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jacquesm 9mo ago

Everything, absolutely everything needs maintenance. Even the pyramids won't last forever and if you want your society to be sustainable you need to factor in maintenance. And often times maintenance is a harder problem than the initial creation.

tastyfreeze 9mo ago
Maintenance also informs builders on what can be improved next time. For example, we now know that rebar reinforced concrete will eventually need to be replaced due to spalling. If we reinforced with glass or basalt rebar that problem is solved. It might fail a different way but it won't be from spalling. Over time we learn to build structures that last a long time and require less maintenance. Unfortunately, building codes are often very specific. Sometimes requiring specific materials. Using a different material requires proving it is a suitable replacement before construction. We have to allow builders to take risks. Sometimes we get a Tacoma Narrows bridge, sometimes we get a Hoover dam. But, the builders have to be able to try new things even if we get a few stinkers once and awhile.
- jacquesm 9mo ago
  Excellent points: I learn more from maintaining code than from writing new code.

owenthejumper 9mo ago

That's just as nonsensical as the classic "Everything that could be invented has been invented already." You didn't read the article. It talks a lot about housing, high speed rail. Those are just two things we could be building right now.