A new investigative series from NOVA delves into some of the most well-known and enigmatic ancient structures. The three-part investigation, "Building Wonders" explores the Roman Colosseum, Petra, and the Hagia Sophia and premieres February 11-25, 2015 throughout the United States on PBS. With expert investigations and experiments, "Building Wonders" will unearth some of the mysterious engineering feats behind these ancient icons. Read on after the break for episode descriptions and trailers.
The ancient stone-carved city of Petra is famous the world over. Known as one of the seven wonders of the world, the ruins generate most, if not all, of the tourism for Wadi Musa, the Jordan town that sits adjacent to the city. Tourism has also led Wadi Musa to develop into a sprawling thoroughfare of shops, kiosks, and hospitality services. This urban chaos would be an abrupt contrast to Petra, were it not for the intervention of Maisam Architects & Engineers. The design firm is responsible for "A Gateway to Petra," a structure that frames the entrance to the ruins while incorporating the planned and existing tourist buildings in the area.
Thanks to state of the art mobile laser scanners, scientists can now document the greatest architecture in history, from The Pyramids to St. Paul's Cathedral, as digital models with pinpoint accuracy. The digital representations take you inside, around and through the buildings, which means researchers can study and analyze sites without being in the field. The technology is already proving its worth - watch the trailer above to see how Petra was constructed and more!