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Arts & Culture

TIME SCANNERS: Colosseum

Point Cloud & CGI Image of the Colosseum.
Courtesy of Atlantic Productions
Point Cloud & CGI Image of the Colosseum.

Airs Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

With cutting-edge technology that can “read” buildings, ruins and landscapes from ancient worlds, TIME SCANNERS reveals physical and forensic history, allowing viewers to reach out and touch the past.

In this episode, the team uses incredible new laser-scanning technology to uncover the engineering secrets behind ancient Rome's Colosseum.

Structural engineer Steve Burrows leads his team of laser-scanning experts to Rome in Italy on a quest to uncover some of the engineering world's oldest mysteries of the Colosseum.

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Using cutting-edge 3D laser-scanning technology, the team want to answer three questions:

  • How did the Romans produce some of the most impressive gladiatorial games ever seen in Europe?
  • How did the Colosseum's mysterious roof really work?
  • Finally, how does the mighty Colosseum perform in state of the art computer testing against the sports stadium of the 21st century?

Armed with incredible scanning technology, the data will provide the clues to help Steve find the answers.

WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:

This episode and past episodes from the series are available to stream on demand with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members ($60 yearly) using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Steve Burrows @ifollowsteve is on Twitter. #Timescanners

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CREDITS:

TIME SCANNERS is produced by Atlantic Productions. Lara Acastar is the series producer. Anthony Geffen is executive producer.