Civil Engineering, KAH-LUN
Civil engineering, the profession of designing and executing structural works that serve the general public. The term was first used in the 18th century to distinguish the newly recognized profession from military engineering, until then preeminent.
Civil Engineering Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Kailushen
Kailushen, in Chinese religion, a deity (shen) who sweeps away evil spirits (guei) that may be lurking along a......
Kainji Lake
Kainji Lake, reservoir on the Niger River, on the border between Niger and Kebbi states, in western Nigeria. It......
Kaiser, Henry J.
Henry J. Kaiser was an American industrialist and founder of more than 100 companies including Kaiser Aluminum,......
Kamen, Dean
Dean Kamen is an American inventor who created the Segway Human Transporter (Segway HT; later called the Segway......
Kanmon Tunnel
Kanmon Tunnel, world’s first under-ocean tunnel, stretching 3.6 km (2.2 miles) between the islands of Honshu and......
Kapellbrücke
Kapellbrücke, covered wooden pedestrian truss bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland, crossing the Reuss River. The majority......
Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway, roadway that connects Kashgar (Kaxgar) in western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China,......
Karakum Canal
Karakum Canal, waterway in Turkmenistan, one of the most extensive water-supply canals in the world. The main section,......
Kariba Dam
Kariba Dam, concrete arch dam across the Zambezi River at Kariba Gorge, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.......
Kariba, Lake
Lake Kariba, lake in central Africa, between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was formed by damming the Zambezi River in......
Katsura Imperial Villa
Katsura Imperial Villa, group of buildings located in the southwest suburbs of Kyōto, Japan. The complex was originally......
Kay, John
John Kay was an English machinist and engineer, inventor of the flying shuttle, which was an important step toward......
Kazakov, Matvey Fyodorovich
Matvey Fyodorovich Kazakov was one of the first Russian architects of Neoclassicism, often called the “master of......
keep
keep, English term corresponding to the French donjon for the strongest portion of the fortification of a castle,......
Kelvin, William Thomson, Baron
William Thomson, Baron Kelvin was a Scottish engineer, mathematician, and physicist who profoundly influenced the......
kerosene lamp
kerosene lamp, vessel containing kerosene with a wick for burning to provide light. Such lamps were widely used......
Kettering, Charles F.
Charles F. Kettering was an American engineer whose inventions, which included the electric starter, were instrumental......
key
key, in locksmithing, an instrument, usually of metal, by which the bolt of a lock (q.v.) is turned. The Romans......
khan
khan, type of inn once found in the Middle East and parts of North Africa and Central Asia that effectively functioned......
Khan, Abdul Qadeer
Abdul Qadeer Khan was a Pakistani engineer, a key figure in Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program who was also involved......
Khan, Fazlur
Fazlur Khan was a Bangladeshi American civil engineer known for his innovations in high-rise building construction.......
Kiel Canal
Kiel Canal, important waterway in northern Germany, extending eastward for 98 km (61 miles) to connect the North......
Kiesler, Frederick John
Frederick John Kiesler was an Austrian-born American architect, sculptor, and stage designer, best known for his......
Kilby, Jack
Jack Kilby was an American engineer and one of the inventors of the integrated circuit, a system of interconnected......
Killigrew, Thomas
Thomas Killigrew was an English dramatist and playhouse manager who was better known for his wit than for his plays,......
kiln
kiln, oven for firing, drying, baking, hardening, or burning a substance, particularly clay products but originally......
King, Clarence
Clarence King was an American geologist and mining engineer who organized and directed the U.S. Geological Survey......
King’s Highway
King’s Highway, ancient thoroughfare that connected Syria and the Gulf of Aqaba by way of what is now Jordan. Mentioned......
Klenze, Leo von
Leo von Klenze was a German architect who was one of the most important figures associated with Neoclassicism in......
Kremlin
Kremlin, central fortress in medieval Russian cities, usually located at a strategic point along a river and separated......
Kremlin, The
The Kremlin, group of buildings in the center of Moscow that serves as the official seat of the government of Russia.......
La Scala
La Scala, theatre in Milan, one of the principal opera houses of the world and the leading Italian house. Built......
Labrouste, Henri
Henri Labrouste was a French architect important for his early use of iron frame construction. Labrouste entered......
labyrinth
labyrinth, system of intricate passageways and blind alleys. “Labyrinth” was the name given by the ancient Greeks......
Lady chapel
Lady chapel, chapel attached to a church and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. As the development of the chevet,......
Lahore Fort
Lahore Fort, fortified complex in Lahore, Pakistan, comprising mosques and palaces built by Mughal emperors. The......
Lake Dwellings
Lake Dwellings, German Pfahlbauten: “pile structures,” remains of prehistoric settlements within what are today......
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, pair of toll bridges over Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana that are jointly......
Lake Washington Ship Canal
Lake Washington Ship Canal, waterway, Seattle, Washington, U.S., 8 miles (13 km) long, with a minimum depth of......
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace, official London residence of the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury. Until 1978 it was also the......
lamella roof
lamella roof, Vaulted roof consisting of a crisscrossing pattern of parallel arches skewed with respect to the......
lamp
lamp, device for producing illumination, originally a vessel containing a wick soaked in combustible material and......
Lancet window
Lancet window, narrow, high window capped by a lancet, or acute, arch. The lancet arch is a variety of pointed......
Lanchester, Frederick William
Frederick William Lanchester was an English automobile and aeronautics pioneer who built the first British automobile......
Langen, Eugen
Eugen Langen was a German engineer who pioneered in building internal-combustion engines. In 1864 Langen formed......
Lantern
Lantern, in architecture, originally an openwork timber construction placed on top of a building to admit light......
lantern
lantern, a case, ordinarily metal, with transparent or translucent sides, used to contain and protect a lamp. Lamp-containing......
Lantern of the dead
Lantern of the dead, small stone structure with windows in the upper part, in which lamps were placed to mark the......
Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip, hub of casinos, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues that spans an approximately 4-mile......
Lath
Lath, any material fastened to the structural members of a building to provide a base for plaster. Lath can be......
Latrobe, Benjamin
Benjamin Latrobe was a British-born architect and civil engineer who established architecture as a profession in......
Laval, Carl Gustaf Patrik de
Carl Gustaf Patrik de Laval was a Swedish scientist, engineer, and inventor who pioneered in the development of......
Lebon, Philippe
Philippe Lebon was a French engineer and chemist, known as the inventor of illuminating gas. While employed as......
Leclanché, Georges
Georges Leclanché was a French engineer who in about 1866 invented the battery that bears his name. In slightly......
LEED® standards
LEED® standards, a certification program devised in 1994 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC; founded 1993)......
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, American railroad whose growth was based on hauling coal from the anthracite mines......
Leland, Henry M.
Henry M. Leland was an American engineer and manufacturer whose rigorous standards contributed to the development......
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect, and engineer whose skill and intelligence,......
Leonardo da Vinci’s parachute
Leonardo da Vinci discussed the parachute in a notebook entry now contained in the Codex Atlanticus. Although it......
Lesseps, Ferdinand, vicomte de
Ferdinand, viscount de Lesseps was a French diplomat famous for building the Suez Canal across the Isthmus of Suez......
levee
levee, any low ridge or earthen embankment built along the edges of a stream or river channel to prevent flooding......
life-safety system
life-safety system, Any interior building element designed to protect and evacuate the building population in emergencies,......
lift-slab construction
lift-slab construction, Technique whereby concrete floor slabs are poured on the ground, one on top of the other,......
light rail transit
light rail transit, system of railways usually powered by overhead electrical wires and used for medium-capacity......
light-frame construction
light-frame construction, System of construction using many small and closely spaced members that can be assembled......
lightbulb
lightbulb, electric incandescent lamp based on a glowing metallic filament enclosed within a glass shell filled......
lighthouse
lighthouse, structure, usually with a tower, built onshore or on the seabed to serve as an aid to maritime coastal......
lighthouse of Alexandria
lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most famous lighthouse in antiquity. It......
lighting
lighting, use of an artificial source of light for illumination. It is a key element of architecture and interior......
lightning rod
lightning rod, metallic rod (usually copper) that protects a structure from lightning damage by intercepting flashes......
limelight
limelight, first theatrical spotlight, also a popular term for the incandescent calcium oxide light invented by......
limes
limes, in ancient Rome, originally a path that marked the boundary between plots of land. Later it came to refer......
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, travertine-clad cultural complex on the western side of Manhattan (1962–68),......
Lincoln Tunnel
Lincoln Tunnel, vehicular tunnel under the Hudson River, from Manhattan (39th Street), New York, to Weehawken,......
Linde, Carl (Paul Gottfried) von
Carl von Linde was a German engineer whose invention of a continuous process of liquefying gases in large quantities......
Lindenthal, Gustav
Gustav Lindenthal was an Austrian-born American civil engineer known for designing Hell Gate Bridge across New......
Lindgren, Waldemar
Waldemar Lindgren was a Swedish-born American economic geologist noted for a system of ore classification that......
Lindley, William
William Lindley was a British civil engineer who helped renovate the German city of Hamburg after a major fire.......
Ling Canal
Ling Canal, ancient canal in the northern part of the Zhuang Autonomous Region of Guangxi, southeastern China.......
linoleum
linoleum, smooth-surfaced floor covering made from a mixture of oxidized linseed oil, gums and resins, and other......
List of Important Canals
Canals are artificial waterways that allow the passage of marine traffic between one body of water and another.......
lock
lock, enclosure or basin located in the course of a canal or a river (or in the vicinity of a dock) with gates......
lock
lock, mechanical device for securing a door or receptacle so that it cannot be opened except by a key or by a series......
locomotive
locomotive, any of various self-propelled vehicles used for hauling railroad cars on tracks. Although motive power......
Lodge
Lodge, originally an insubstantial house or dwelling, erected as a seasonal habitation or for some temporary occupational......
Loft
Loft, in architecture, upper space within a building, or a large undivided space in a building used principally......
log cabin
log cabin, small house built of logs notched at the ends and laid one upon another with the spaces filled with......
Logan, Sir William Edmond
Sir William Edmond Logan was one of the foremost Canadian geologists of the 19th century. Logan was educated at......
loggia
loggia, room, hall, gallery, or porch open to the air on one or more sides; it evolved in the Mediterranean region,......
Lomaum Dam
Lomaum Dam, dam on the upper Catumbela River in western Angola. The Lomaum hydroelectric plant provides power for......
London Bridge
London Bridge, any of several successive structures spanning the River Thames between Borough High Street in Southwark......
London Docklands
London Docklands, area along the River Thames in London. It covers nearly 9 square miles (22 square km) of riverfront......
Long Island Rail Road Company
Long Island Rail Road Company, American railroad on Long Island, N.Y., and one of the few in the world still operating......
Longhouse
Longhouse, traditional dwelling of many Northeast Indians of North America. A traditional longhouse was built by......
Louver
Louver, arrangement of parallel, horizontal blades, slats, laths, slips of glass, wood, or other material designed......
Lucin Cutoff
Lucin Cutoff, portion of a Southern Pacific rail line built across the Great Salt Lake, Utah, in 1902–04, replacing......
Lukin, Lionel
Lionel Lukin was a pioneer in the construction of the modern “unsinkable” lifeboat. While he was working as a London......
luminaire
luminaire, Complete lighting unit, consisting of one or more lamps (bulbs or tubes that emit light), along with......
Lunette
Lunette, arching aperture in a wall or concave ceiling. It may be crescent-shaped or semicircular. The word is......