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Apr 30, 2024 · Building Bridges is a four-day conference that brings together stakeholders from various sectors to shape the global sustainable finance agenda. Learn about the 2023 edition, the 2024 call for events, and the insights from the 2023 ESG Global Study.
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Building Bridges is a joint initiative, launched in 2019 by...
- 2023 Edition
DOWNLOAD BB CONNECT AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Plan and...
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Building Bridges is more than an event, it is a powerful...
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Building Bridges is a leading collaborative initiative that...
- 2023 High-Level Plenaries
Building Bridges will host High-Level Plenaries during the...
- 2023 Building Bridges Village
Tuesday. October 3, 2023. 12:30 – 12:45 (CET) Launch of the...
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bridge, structure that spans horizontally between supports, whose function is to carry vertical loads. The prototypical bridge is quite simple—two supports holding up a beam—yet the engineering problems that must be overcome even in this simple form are inherent in every bridge: the supports must be strong enough to hold the structure up, and the span between supports must be strong enough to carry the loads. Spans are generally made as short as possible; long spans are justified where good foundations are limited—for example, over estuaries with deep water.
All major bridges are built with the public’s money. Therefore, bridge design that best serves the public interest has a threefold goal: to be as efficient, as economical, and as elegant as is safely possible. Efficiency is a scientific principle that puts a value on reducing materials while increasing performance. Economy is a social principle that puts value on reducing the costs of construction and maintenance while retaining efficiency. Finally, elegance is a symbolic or visual principle that puts value on the personal expression of the designer without compromising performance or economy. There is little disagreement over what constitutes efficiency and economy, but the definition of elegance has always been controversial.
Modern designers have written about elegance or aesthetics since the early 19th century, beginning with the Scottish engineer Thomas Telford. Bridges ultimately belong to the general public, which is the final arbiter of this issue, but in general there are three positions taken by professionals. The first principle holds that the structure of a bridge is the province of the engineer and that beauty is fully achieved only by the addition of architecture. The second idea, arguing from the standpoint of pure engineering, insists that bridges making the most efficient possible use of materials are by definition beautiful. The third case holds that architecture is not needed but that engineers must think about how to make the structure beautiful. This last principle recognizes the fact that engineers have many possible choices of roughly equal efficiency and economy and can therefore express their own aesthetic ideas without adding significantly to materials or cost.
Generally speaking, bridges can be divided into two categories: standard overpass bridges or unique-design bridges over rivers, chasms, or estuaries. This article describes features common to both types, but it concentrates on the unique bridges because of their greater technical, economic, and aesthetic interest.
Britannica Quiz
Bridge Quiz
There are six basic bridge forms: the beam, the truss, the arch, the suspension, the cantilever, and the cable-stay.
Learn about the basic forms, functions, and challenges of bridge engineering from Britannica. Explore the history and design of bridges, from simple beams to complex suspension structures, and their role in society and culture.
Learn about the three major types of bridges: beam, truss, and arch. See how they work, how they are built, and how they span different distances.
Jul 5, 2023 · Learn the basics of bridge construction, from planning to testing, with this infographic. Explore different bridge designs, materials and challenges for building over water.
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Jun 11, 2019 · Building Bridges is the newest monumental sculpture in Venice by acclaimed artist Lorenzo Quinn. Six pairs of hands stretch across a canal in different gestures showing unity, love, and empathy. “Venice is a World Heritage City and it is the city of bridges,” says Quinn.
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BBI is a national initiative to promote best practice and policy for families and youth who receive a residential intervention. Learn about the five core values and principles, the resources, and the events of BBI and its partners.
Explore the basics, challenges, wonders and forces of bridges with this interactive site from PBS. Learn from experts, play games, watch videos and more.
