Developing computational design techniques to meet the increasing demand for more complex and sustainable bridges in Southeast Asia

The economic growth being seen in Southeast Asia is driving a significant investment in infrastructure, particularly in the major cities of the region. Constructing elevated highways and railways in an already congested urban environment requires innovative solutions, adopting prefabricated modular construction techniques to form curved/longer span bridges and viaducts.

The form of these bridges challenges the engineer, but the adoption of computational design techniques has granted the designer a key tool which permits agility in determining the arrangement while simplifying the approach to optimisation.

Computational design and prefabrication are closely aligned with the drive for sustainability in construction. Large sections of the bridges are fabricated in a factory or workshop based on the same 3-D model prepared for delivery of the design. The efficient use of materials and resources becomes intrinsic to the design process in finding the most suitable form and geometry. The manufacturing process leads to less site-based plant and a smaller workforce, working in a safer environment.