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The natural bridge over the Bitirí River, located in Holguín province, shows visible signs of weakining that put its stability at risk. The purpose of the study is to evaluate and proposing a set of strategic actions aimed at preserving this unique geological structure declared a natural monument. Based on field and cabinetwork, a comprehensive environmental analysis was carried out in three stages, which allowed diagnosing the degradation of the bridge, proposing an action plan and assessing the effectiveness of the actions in the long term. For this last purpose, the PROMETHEE software was applied to assess the applicability, efficiency and relevance of the 13 proposed actions. In this way, six optimal actions were differentiated, two with indirect incidence and five not relevant. It was also possible to establish that the environmental problems affecting bridge stability are mainly associated with natural erosion accentuated by the anthropic overexploitation of the place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juan Antonio Camacho de Saavedra was probably the most brilliant and versatile master of the cordobes Baroque in the first half of the xviii century. His work, deeply linked to the Marquisate of Priego and the Bishopric of Cordoba, covers a wide variety of original and remodelling works in buildings of various types. The legacy of this great architect and engineer encompasses such diverse buildings as hospitals, chapels, mills, granaries and all kinds of building rehabilitation and repair works. The preservation of the records of some of his works allows us to know, although always insufficiently, the contribution this genius made to the eighteenth century architecture and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In november 2013 the construction of the second bridge over La Restinga lagoon was initiated, a work that seeks to boost transportation to the Macanao Peninsula. Thereafter, a conflict was generated between governmental authorities that proposed this construction, and students and teachers from Universidad de Oriente who demanded the submission of the Environmental and Sociocultural Impact Assessment (ESIA) required by the Venezuelan environmental legislation. On august 13th, 2014, the Governmental authorities publicly presented the ESIA, and indicated that the only negative impact would be the deforestation of 1241 m² of mangroves. However, this study shows that the environmental impacts were greater than those indicated by authorities. To support this, satellite images were used to calculate the deforested area and to find out other changes in the components of the landscape. Sediment traps were also placed in the main channel to assess the contribution of exogenous material into the lagoon. It was estimated that the deforestation of mangroves comprised an area of 2399 m², 892 m² of the main channel were invaded by gravel-clay material and 639 m² in the adjacent lagoons. Sedimentation was homogeneous during the study period, but occurred mainly in the construction area and on occasions was greater in other zones at the mouth of the lagoon. It is recommended a long-term sediment transport evaluation be performed, as well as the monitoring of the health and survival of mangroves and marine organisms susceptible to sedimentation, especially of filter feeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining the basic design course of architecture as a research topic involves defining aspects of form, structure and content. This intention was put into practice through an exercise in which the creation of form (as it is done in basic design courses), the constructive conception (as the essence of the architectural event) and the content (through the valuation of architectural experience). It started with the collection of information on tectonics, then proceeded with practical exercises and analysis on the initial information, concluding with the exercise of synthesis whose central theme was the design of a bridge. Finally, the definition of a basic design exercise with a purely architectural character was achieved, where the students obtained their first level of training in terms of awareness of the place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of estimation of corrosion aggressivity atmosphere, as preliminary result in the bridge Los Caras, was carried out. This bridge connects the Bahia de Caraquez and San Vicente cantons (municipalities) in Manabí state, Republic of Ecuador. Three outdoor exposure sites located on link beams of the bridge were selected. Wooden rack with two dry plate devices and wet candle devices for chloride deposition measurement were place in each outdoor exposure site. Sequences of measurements fortnightly were carried out, during the quarter September-October 2015. Two values by dry plate device and one value by wet candle were obtained. The results showed that is possible from preliminary evaluation of corrosion aggressivity atmosphere to obtain the first results that allow the taking of protective measures with the purpose of durability and useful life increase. The study zone is indicative of the existence of level of corrosion aggressivity of the atmosphere high and the presence of coastal atmospheres. On the others hand, influence of meteorological parameters as relative humidity, temperature, as well as wind speed flow on chloride deposition rate as main aggressive agent causing atmospheric corrosion on steel reinforced concrete was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the history of all human activity there have been events and people that have changed the course of these activities. In the history of engineering and in the history of bridges in particular, evolution has similarly played a very important part on account of the many engineers that have designed and built bridges. The first period in the history of bridges, that of stone and wooden bridges, concluded at the end of the 18th century on the advent of the first iron bridge. In this, the construction of bridges becomes part of the art of building, incorporating both engineering and architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on the following three ideas: 1) In both the enlargement of historic bridges and the design of medium-span bridges (40-90m), problems of structural nature and design strength become less relevant while those of a formal nature take on greater importance. 2) This then adds an additional dimension to the engineering project and one that may, in turn, be seen as a challenge and opportunity for the engineer who can and should express himself in a manner that is not always permitted to the engineer. 3) With regards to the modelling of the landscape, the urban skyline may be affected to a greater or lesser extent in accordance with the adopted structural solution, though the bridge will always become a perfect viewpoint for the city. The article provides four different examples: the bridge in Cullera, a bridge in Manises and the enlargements to the historic bridges of Estivella and Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, that perfectly illustrate these arguments but with radically different solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a number of architectural elements in the Turia riverbed which have been developed over the centuries: bridges, embankments, ornamental elements, etc... Their capital importance for the historical and artistic heritage of the city of Valencia along with the little attention they have received so far, raised the need to pursue their study and cataloging. This paper analyzes one of the most emblematic elements integrating the Turia riverbed from a morphological and geometrical perspective, that is, the Puente del Mar bridge. The backbone of the present research focuses on deepening the potential of graphical representation tools for recovery, preservation and enhancement of the architectural heritage, coupled with the consideration that the drawing itself has, i.e. be the generator of architectural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road network plays an essential role in the construction of a territory and in the configuration and experience of landscape. Roads can add clarity--that is, visibility and intelligibility--to landscape; and landscape can add common sense and aesthetic value to road planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]