Paper and Pencil in the Age of BIM. Design and Construction of the Butarque Footbridge

Many key aspects of a bridge project are governed by construction site-related, geometric, functional and constructional constraints. Furthermore, economy is a decisive factor in public works and, with respect to bridge aesthetics, there is an increasing demand for more than just utilitarian structures. Such exacting boundary conditions often spur careful and indeed even innovative structural design. Since the successful translation of numerous constraints into a reliable, functional, cost-effective and aesthetically attractive structure is primarily a question of consistent conceptual design, the importance of this step in the design process as a whole cannot be overstated. A suitable choice of structural system, foundations, deck crosssection and constitutive materials on the one hand, and manufacturing and assembly procedures on the other, usually yields a cost-effective solution that meets structural safety and serviceability requirements. In addition, an appropriate balance needs to be reached between economy and aesthetics.

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