PBS series uses laser scanning to uncover secrets of the worlds greatest engineering feats

New York — Steve Burrows, P.E., LEED AP, executive vice president and USA director of Buildings at WSP, a global engineering, design and environmental consultancy, will be featured in PBS’s new series, Time Scanners. Time Scanners, produced by Atlantic Productions, uses 3D laser scanning technology to unlock the secrets of how the world’s most iconic engineering creations were constructed. 

Time Scanners is scheduled to premiere on July 1 with an episode on the pyramids of Egypt at 8 p.m. EST. The series will continue on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. through July 15, with episodes at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Petra.

In the series, Burrows works with a team of laser scanners from the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies at the University of Arkansas to find the answers to a variety of questions related to how the structures were engineered and built. Questions answered include:

• How did ancient Egyptian engineers build burial tombs within the pyramids?
• Where exactly did the bomb explode in St. Paul’s Cathedral during World War II?
• How did the Nabathians create such amazing rock profiles in sandstone, and how have they stood the test of time?

“The explorations the laser scanning team and I made during the filming of Time Scanners have been among the highlights of my career,” says Burrows. “We were all astonished by what the scans revealed – and these discoveries will intrigue the non-professional viewer just as much as they will professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction.”

Burrows, who is known for his work on high-profile projects worldwide, was named a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), for accomplishments in the field of engineering. He is a structural engineer with a BSc. in civil engineering from Liverpool Polytechnic, a chartered engineer in the U.K., a professional engineer in California, and a LEED AP. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers, and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Headquartered in New York City, WSP (www.wspgroup.com/usa) has more than 1,050 staff members in 35 offices across the U.S. Globally, WSP is a leading engineering design and environmental consultancy with approximately 17,000 employees working in more than 300 offices spanning 30 countries.