A state-of-the-art NATO airplane, the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), is one of the most complex surveillance tools in the world, and special access inside this behemoth reveals how cutting-edge engineering and a hi-tech midair refueling system helps its crew defend against security threats.

Deadly avalanches and catastrophic flooding are ever-present threats at Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, one of the world's busiest ski resorts. New technology and cutting-edge construction methods help engineers conquer the elements to keep this mountain-top getaway safe.