It’s human nature not to see things that sit right behind our noses. From little details to the complex structures we’re surrounded by every single day.
One such example is the city Infrastructure you live in. Our environment is made up of the seemingly never-ending and complex net of physical and organizational structures and facilities, from buildings and roads to power supplies and waste management that make our lives easier, better, and more efficient.
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Luckily, there’s this awesome community on Reddit that by sharing high-quality images of incredible infrastructure from all around the world, gives this often overlooked aspect of society the appreciation it deserves. We wrapped up some of the most interesting examples shared on the subreddit for you to enjoy, so I leave the stage to them!
#1 Netherlands Land Bridge
Image credits: lambcasters
#2 India Has Constructed A 16 Km Long Elevated Highway As To Allow Wild Animals To Pass Underneath It
Image credits: Alkit777
#3 Sart Canal Bridge - La Louvière, Belgium
Image credits: rockystl
A recent report suggests that by 2050, more than 68 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, a growth of 2.5 billion from today. And to meet the needs of their citizens, cities are investing heavily in infrastructure and building space and constantly looking for optimal solutions to cater to this whopping population.
According to Robert Puentes, the president and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation, which is a non-profit think tank with the mission of improving transportation policy and leadership, well-developed infrastructure is much more than what meets the eye. He argues that rotten roads equal bum economy.
#4 Crab Overpass On Christmas Island, Preventing Migrating Crabs From Getting Ran Over
Image credits: Theweedhacker_420
#5 Does Beaver Infrastructure Count? This Was At Least 10 Feet Tall, And Extremely Well Built
Image credits: Long_Tall_Downturkey
#6 Hands Bridge, Vietnam
Image credits: Teillu
“Concrete, steel, and fiber-optic cable are the essential building blocks of the economy. Infrastructure enables trade, powers businesses, connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for struggling communities and protects the nation from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment,” Puentes argues.
According to Puentes, infrastructure is the backbone of any healthy economy and it includes anything from private investment in telecommunication systems, broadband networks, freight railroads, energy projects and pipelines, to public spending on transportation, water, buildings and parks.
#7 A Curve At B31, 79874 Breitnau, Germany
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#8 Chengyang Yongji Bridge In Liuzhou City, China
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#9 High Speed Trains In Nanjing, China
Image credits: Ninnux
Incredibly, Brookings Institution analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data revealed that 14 million people have jobs in fields directly related to infrastructure. Think of locomotive engineers, airline pilots, truck drivers: these professions make for nearly 11 percent of the nation’s workforce.
#10 Brusio Spiral Viaduct, Switzerland
Image credits: h2ozo
#11 Friedrich Bayer Bridge, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Image credits: Manisha2256
#12 Dragon Bridge, Vietnam
Image credits: Ironyfree_annie
Puentes explains that the US has seen tremendous growth in population with 25 million people added in the past 10 years, which is concentrated in the 50 largest metropolitan areas. “It will place new demands on already overtaxed infrastructure. Metropolitan areas must be ready to adapt not only to serve millions of new customers but also to help poorer residents, many of whom are jobless, have the best chance possible to find work,” he states.
#13 The Uninhabited Island Of Baljenac In The Adriatic Sea
Uninhabited except for a 14-mile network of low stone walls. Built by residents of a nearby island to separate crop fields and vineyards.
Image credits: el_empty
#14 Road Connecting Different Islands In Åland Islands
Image credits: Racingamer145
#15 Panlong Road Aerial View
Image credits: wmdolls
“Despite the importance of infrastructure, the US has not spent enough for decades to maintain and improve it. It accounts for about 2.5 percent of the economy, compared to about 3.9 percent spent in Canada, Australia and South Korea, 5 percent for Europe and 9-12 percent in China,” Puentes continues.
He adds that the US must spend at least $150 billion more a year on infrastructure through 2020 to meet its needs. This would add about 1.5 percent to annual economic growth and create at least 1.8 million jobs. The question is, will they do this?
#16 The World's Oldest Underground Station 157 Years Apart
Image credits: DeviMon1
#17 Curved Pedestrian Bridge Links Two Riverfront Parks In Providence, Rhode Island
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#18 Sea Cliff Bridge, New South Wales, Australia
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#19 A Rare Mid-Construction Shot Of The Golden Bridge Being Built In California, 1935
Image credits: biwook
#20 Arc De Triomphe, From Above
Image credits: Adventurous_Sense750
#21 Floating Solar Power Plant In Ramagundam, India
Image credits: I_speak_truth_only
#22 The Escalators At The Wheaton Metro Station In Maryland Are The Longest Single Span Escalators In The Western Hemisphere At 230 Feet. I'm Surprised No Action Movie Fight Scenes Have Been Filmed Here
Image credits: kernals12
#23 New Cycling Lane In Delhi, A Sign Of Things To Come For The Whole City
Image credits: Hiif4
#24 Forth Rail Bridge, Scotland
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#25 Mountain And Sea Trail In Xiamen, China
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#26 Somewhere In Hong Kong
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#27 Fukashiro Dam, Yamanashi, Japan
Image credits: archineering
#28 Chicago's Wells Street Bridge
Image credits: morganmonroe81
#29 Warsaw Subway. Because It's Very Young System, New Stations Look Very Impressive. It's Also One Of The Cleanest Subway Systems In Europe
Image credits: umotex12
#30 Underground Urban Highway In Tehran, Iran
Image credits: biwook
#31 Ashalim Solar Power Tower, Negev Desert, Israel
Image credits: isogonal-conjugate
#32 Urban Ropeway, Kisha-Michi Bridge, Yokohama, Japan
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#33 Thyssenkrupp Elevators Test Tower In Guangzhou, China
Image credits: tanmaypendse63
#34 Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway China
Image credits: Yonglimon
#35 Intersection In Zagreb, Croatia
Image credits: nixass
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