Abstract
In this article, the writer explains that the Peace Bridge spans the Niagara River and links the cities of Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York. The writer points out that this bridge is considered a critical link for cross-border commercial traffic with considerable economic significance for the region. The paper explains that the bridge was built in 1927, has three traffic lanes and sidewalks, and has been well-maintained so it is in excellent condition. The writer points out that the proposal to construct a new bridge that would cross the river is not due to damage to the existing bridge but to the limited capacity of the roadways on the bridge.

From the Paper
"Someone designed the highway, while no one designed the space under the bridge. Such extra spaces are often created with such large-scale projects. This space is not likely to be useful in the current project to add three lanes of traffic to the existing bridge, though a more useful design for this space could be included at the same time to improve the area."
"The current bridge is a 3,600-foot steel truss built in 1927. The bridge is made up of five arched spans crossing the Niagara River, with an added through-truss span crossing the Black Rock Canal on the American side. The bridge was built of tons of steelwork and concrete abutments to hold it. The bridge was built to relieve traffic on the International Railway Bridge erected in 1873. The construction had to overcome the swift river current in that area, running at about twelve miles per hour. It is hoped that an addition to the bridge can increase traffic by one-third."

Tags:project, twin-tower, bridge, traffic, highways

Abstract
This is a case study that focuses on the design of the Brooklyn Bridge, which was constructed from 1869-1883. It looks at the evolution of the modern suspension bridge from its beginnings in ancient China to the work of John Finley in early 19th century America and eventually John Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge itself. The paper looks at the materials generally used in suspension bridges.

Tags:bridge, engineer, brooklyn

Abstract
The paper relates that "The Railway Bridge at Argenteuil" by Claude Monet is a groundbreaking and innovative work that use the impressionistic landscape style to alter colorization and light in the late 19th century industrial era. The paper asserts that clearly, Monet is the "father" of impressionism and brings forth a style that breaks with the classical realism of many painters of this era, bringing forth new ways to perceive light and color in short brush strokes in modern industrial landscapes.

Tags:monet, bridge, railway

Abstract
The paper looks at how the plot for Rambai Espinet's "The Swinging Bridge" is set in two very different locations: Montreal and Toronto in Canada and Trinidad. The paper relates that the time-line of the novel is also spread over fifty or so years from late 1950s at the time when Trinidad gained independence to the present. The paper then looks at the novel "Purple Hibiscus" that is set in Nigeria (west Africa), more specifically in two towns located at the south of the country, Enugu and Nsukka, and rural areas surrounding Nsukka. The paper relates that Nigeria used to be a British colony and the influence of colonial rule is present thought the novel.

From the Paper
"The novel "Purple Hibiscus" is set in Nigeria (west Africa), more specifically in two towns located at the south of the country Enugu and Nsukka and rural areas surrounding Nsukka. Nigeria used to be a British colony and the influence of colonial rule is present thought the novel. Thus, apart from the official language (English) the Catholicism in south Nigeria that came with the European conquerors is present and plays an important role. The plot is set during the second half of the last century, immediately before one of the several military coups in the country."

Tags:the purple hibiscus, the swinging bridge, summary

Abstract
The paper examines Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." The paper looks at the author's style of lyric realism and the use of irony. The paper reviews the main character and the plot.

From the Paper
"Ambrose Bierce wrote "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" in order to crawl inside the minds of her audience and psychologically play with their brains just to find out what might happen at the other end. The detailed characterization of the unlucky protagonist, as well as the elegantly crafted style of the narrative work together produce the irony that so often characterizes Bierce's writing and causes us to marvel at its composition."

Tags:bierce, ambrose, owl creek bridge

Abstract
This paper explains that, inevitably, bridges deteriorate over time at different rates: Timely maintenance activities, which are well-planned and carried out with minimal disruption to road users can present substantial savings in terms of both time and money for both bridge owners and road users. The author ponts out that, to tackle the complicated issues regarding bridge management, research activities in the UK as well as other countries in continental Europe concentrate largely on the bridge management process, with attention given to improving the use of limited finances to maximize the returns from the maintenance and repair of the bridge stock as well as reduce additional costs due to traffic delays and lane closures for these activities. The paper includes a critical review of other BMSs used worldwide, development of models to predict bridge condition over time, analysis of the various road user costs and using different optimizing techniques to best allocate finances and optimize bridge performance. 39 tables. 40 figures.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Objective
Bridge Conditions in the U.K.
Introduction
Maintenance and Upgrading
Expenditure
Department of Transport (DoT) Programme
What is a Bridge Management System (BMS)?
Introduction
Department of Transport Structure
Maintenance Agents
BMS in the U.K. and Other Countries
Introduction
Bridge Condition
Other Information in BMS's
Condition Prediction
Cost Models
Decision for Maintenance and Repair
Prioritization
BMS in the U.S.A.
BRIDGIT System
PONTIS System
SMIS System
Inventory
Inspection and Assessment
National Structures Programmes (NSPs)
Prioritization
Project Creation
Whole Life Assessment and Costing
Activities Schedule
Data Accuracy
Design Specifications
Access
Integration with External Systems
Bridge Inspection and Assessment
Bridge Inspection Types
Defects
Bridge Scoring
Introduction
Definitions
Bridge Condition Score (BCS)
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Bridge Stock Condition Index (BSCI)
Multi Span Bridges
Bridge Scoring Example
Interpreting BCS's
BCS Results
Histograms for Bridge Stock
Interpreting BCI's
BCI Results
Interpreting BSCI's
Predicting Bridge Condition with Time
Introduction
Markov Chain Approach
Example Calculation
Bridge Condition Example
Bridge Condition Results
Bridge Aggregation Example
Bridge Aggregation Results
Bridge Stock Example
Bridge Stock Results
Traffic Costs
Introduction
Traffic Count Example
Traffic Count Results
Traffic Delay Cost Examples
Delay Costs Results (1st Example)
Delay Costs Results (2nd Example)
Accident Cost Example
Accident Costs Results
Environmental Impact
Introduction
Emissions Example
Emissions Results
Decision-Making and Prioritization
Decision-making
Introduction
Prioritization
Introduction
Dynamic Programming
Budget Allocation Approach
Budget Allocation Results (1st Example)
Budget Allocation Results( 2nd Example)
Budget Allocation Results ( 3rd Example)
Improvements to Budget Allocation Approach
Introduction to BCI optimization approach
Service Potential (BCI) Examples
BCI Optimization Results (1st Example)
BCI Optimization Results (2nd Example)
BCI Optimization Results (3rd Example)
Maintenance Costs Examples
BCI Optimization Results (4th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (5th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (6th Example)
Conclusion
Future Research

From the Paper
"It is proposed that the transition probabilities to be used are the Bridge Condition Index (BCI), which operates on a linear scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best). The degree of severity of bridges is linearly distributed over this range (i.e. BCI of 50 to 51 is the same as 90 to 91), except that costs are expected not to have a linear distribution. This is a useful approach as the BCI (average) is interpreted as 'service potential' and is used as a performance indicator.
Using the example for multi span bridges earlier on, the transition probabilities for a three-state Markov chain model with limiting stage value of 3 is proposed. The probabilities are in accordance to the BCI values for the 'good' bridge arranged in order of descending magnitude (i.e. P(1) = 0.9845 and P(2) = 0.9246). For the purposes of comparison, the other two bridges ('medium' and 'bad') are also modelled and the three are plotted together."

Tags:allocation, asset, costs, delay, environmental, highway, maintenance, management, optimisation, resource, traffic

Abstract
The paper discusses how on August 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed, sending cars, drivers, and construction workers to their deaths. The paper focuses on the ethical issues involved with this collapse and relates that the bridge was known to have flaws, was actually deemed "structurally deficient," and yet, the bridge was allowed to remain open. Further, the paper reveals that the bridge was already flawed in its design, implicating the design and engineering firms who created it. The paper contends that the nation's infrastructure is crumbling and not enough is being done to stop more accidents from occurring.

From the Paper
"The I-35 West Bridge was constructed in 1967, and inspected regularly thereafter by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The last time it was inspected was in May 2007, where the Department inspectors noted some "weld details," and noted they would continue to inspect the bridge. They did not deem it unsafe. The bridge was rated a 4 out of 9, and the U.S. Department of Transportation website notes, "The 4 rating means that the state can continue to operate the bridge without load restrictions (0= shut down, 9 = perfect)" (Editors). An engineering expert notes, "Until it plunged into the Mississippi River, it served as a transportation lifeline for the growing Twin Cities population, carrying across its 14 spans many of the SUVs, cars and trucks that accounted for the 42 percent rise in Minnesota's vehicle traffic from 1990 to 2003" (Flynn). Thus, it came under increasingly heavy use, it was showing signs of stress and wear, (such as the weakened welds), and it was known it was not a 9 or "perfect" bridge."

Tags:design, structure, flaws, welds, infrastructure

Abstract
The paper discusses the fact that roads invariably require bridges to cross over roads and rivers, and as strong as the bridges may seem to be at the time of their construction, engineers have not been able to build corrosion-proof bridges. The paper highlights the problems associated with corrosion of steel reinforced concrete bridge girders as they are vitally important to travelers and to engineers. The paper also reviews the numerous studies that have been conducted, and provides recommendations for better predictability vis-a-vis when a bridge is due to be replaced.

Outline:
Table of Contents
List of Figures, Nomenclature, Introduction
Hypothesis of Theoretical Considerations
Procedure
Results
Discussion of Results
Conclusions
Recommendations

From the Paper
"This paper provides a strong engineering and safety background into the problems associated with corrosion and bridges. The procedure used in this paper is presented through the careful examination of the existing literature. Some of the literature may be a few years old but the past is prologue; what went before is as relevant as what is going on today. Other literature presented is quite contemporary, and all of the materials presented in this paper are relevant. Especially relevant are studies that have been conducted six, seven, eight and more years ago; compared and contrasted with what engineers and scientists are saying in the latest bulletins and research documents. For example, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) offered standard specifications for highway bridges in the 1990s that seem to be practical and yet have clearly not provided a workable solution to the ongoing problems of corrosion.
In the article titled "Reliability of Reinforced Concrete Girders Under Corrosion Attack," the authors (Frangopol, et al, 1997) embrace the AASHTO strategy; first, the effects of corrosion "on both moment and shear reliabilities" are carefully investigated; second, a "reliability-based design approach" that is based on minimization of "total material cost including corrosion effects" is taken into consideration. This article suggests that taking into consideration the environmental stressors on concrete (due to corrosion), along with the AASHTO standards, can then be plugged into "reliability-based optimization software." That software is a product of the combining of general-purpose optimization software and a Monte Carlo simulation-based evaluation program.
Hence, the procedure for coming up with reliable estimates of the life expectancy of concrete girders comes in two phases, according to this research. Phase one spans the time from construction to corrosion initiation; phase two, from corrosion initiation to time when "unacceptable levels of section loss have occurred." But is this procedure proactive or reactive? The answer - it is indeed reactive, and it is also outdated. But nevertheless it should be researched and understood because it is part of the literature. Science cannot predict future conditions and dynamics based on models and hypotheses alone. A foundation for the projections of the future is based on evidence from the past. "

Tags:materila, structure, engineering

Abstract
This paper discusses how, in "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", Thornton Wilder is trying to explore, with the reader, the meaning of life. It looks at how Wilder explores the theme of his novel through the point of view of a third person, Brother Juniper, who witnesses the collapse of the bridge of San Luis Rey and the death of five people. It also examines how the use of sunlight is symbolic of enlightenment and the message that the meaning of life is found among the living.

From the Paper
"Just as the reader begins to feel that the purpose of life is to discover the meaning of love and the importance of expressing it unreservedly, Wilder raises another complication. The Marquesa is never given a chance to begin anew as she dies on the Bridge of San Luis Rey a few days later. The conflict begins again. What is the meaning of life? If the narrative is taken at face value, it all seems rather senseless, for after all, where is the point in achieving self-realization literally at the point of death? Unless, Wilder intended the reader to derive the meaning through evoking a sense of sympathy for the character of the Marquesa or even a sense of outrage at the waste."

Tags:live, death, brother, juniper

Abstract
"When people in the United States today hear the term "London Bridge," they are most likely to think of one of the most peculiar sights anywhere within the United States that of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

From the Paper
"When people in the United States today hear the term "London Bridge," they are most likely to think of one of the most peculiar sights anywhere within the United States that of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Surrounded by faked-up Tudor buildings and busloads of tourists, the large bridge is dwarfed by the majesty of the desert Southwest. The entire enterprise stands as a monument to a deep human appreciation for irony, for what else could explain the immense cost and energy that went into transporting such an immense structure such a long way for so very little purpose.

But this peculiar structure in the desert is in fact not the real London Bridge at all (if any bridge can in fact lay claim to that title, which seems unlikely), but the New London Bridge, designed in 1831 by the Scottish engineer John Rennie ..."