Explosives are being replaced as cities get more crowded

Using explosives to demolish tall buildings has been done for decades, but a number of factors are making them an increasingly difficult and undesirable solution. The reason for this is our cities becoming every more crowded meaning much more precise demolition is needed. The other reason is ever tighter controls on debris, recycling, and dust levels.

The solution surprisingly isn't the better use of explosives, it's actually replacing them completely. The Economist has a fascinating article about this subject which you can read at the link below. It seems gas canisters and remote-controlled hydraulic jacks are the future.

Source The Economist