Parametric Design for Footbridge: A Case Study

In recent years, more and more algorithm and parametric methods are applied in the field of architecture and industrial design. Meanwhile, current bridge design, in most cases, is still based on practical demanding, like the span. Although footbridge shares the similar structure with large-scale bridge, it also has some distinctive characters, for example, they are always small span bridges so that we have multiple ways to solve structural problems. In addition, there are a large number of footbridges everywhere, which is an important facility for our daily life. With the increasing of our spiritual demand, user experience and visual effect will be the primary elements to achieve the final design. Parametric design could develop thousand kinds of new forms even with certain parameters, which is fit for our design principle that is user experience first.

In this case, we tried to use parametric design method to create several types of bridges, which contain the factors controlling bridge features. These factors have close relationship with user experience. Then we change factors to make thousands of iterations to evaluate different form by whether they fit for the surroundings. After define the best user experience principle, we use genetic algorithm to choose the bridge location and optimize the form. Moreover, algorithm could also be used to optimize multiple bridges simultaneously, which means if there are one more bridges build at one place simultaneously, the algorithm can optimize these bridges simultaneously. Bridges' formations will not only be influenced by the surroundings but also bridge each other. Because of the flexibility of parametric design, it gives a new design thinking for footbridge, which is pedestrian is the first influencing factor instead of structure and construction.

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