Sustainability issues have become real in the 21st Century due to natural resource depletion and climate change. Sustainable Bridge Design approach is to give eminence to ecological balance and apply ecological conservation concepts and methods in bridge design. It must provide safe passage for both public and animal safety.

1. Sustainable Bridge Design
Gibson Holemba
Master of Engineering Student (1)
Laboratory of Bridge and Structural Design Engineering
Division of Engineering and Policy for Sustainable Environment
Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University

2. Content
• What is Sustainable Bridge Design?
• Sustainable Bridge Design: SDG Framework
• Sustainable Bridge Design: The Difference
• Sustainable Bridge Design: Indicators
• Sustainable Bridge Design: Externalities
• Sustainability Bridge Design: Examples
• Conclusion
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3. What is Sustainable Bridge Design?
Sustainable Bridge Design consist of three different words.
According Microsoft Encarta Dictionary (2007),
Sustainable - to be able to be maintained or maintaining
ecological balance.
Bridge - is a structure allowing passage over an
obstacle such as a river, road or valley for
vehicle and people to cross over it.
Design - is to make a detailed plan of the form or
structure of something, emphasizing features
such as its appearance, convenience, and
efficient functioning.
Sustainable Bridge Design:
is the detailed plan of a bridge maintaining ecological
balance and allowing passage for people and vehicular
traffic over any natural or physical obstacle.
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4. Sustainable Bridge Design 4

5. Sustainable Bridge Design: SDG Framework
Sustainable
Bridge
Design
Goal 9:
Industry, Innovation
& Infrastructure
Goal 11:
Sustainable Cities
& Communities
Goal 12:
Responsible Consumption
& Production
Goal 13:
Climate Action
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6. Sustainable Bridge Design: The Difference
A) Conventional Design Factors
• Safety
• Aesthetics
• Durability
B) Sustainable Design Factors
• Ecological factors
• Eco-friendly
• Recycled Materials
• Public and Community
Participation
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7. Sustainable Bridge Design: Indicators
Following are the Sustainable Development
Indicators of Sustainable Bridge Design:
1. Reduction of Virgin Material Use
2. Optimization of Waste Stream
3. Reduction of Energy Consumption
4. Reduction of CO2 emissions
5. Improvement of Hydrological Regime
Characteristics and Aquatic Life
6. Maintenance of Biodiversity
7. Engage Community Values and Sense of Place
8. Improved Personal, Public and Animal Safety
9. Improved Access and Mobility
10.Improvement of Local Economy
11.Improved Life-cycle Efficiency
12.Promotion of Innovation and Technology
World’s First Glass Bridge in China
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8. Sustainable Bridge Design: Externalities
What are some of the key Externalities in Sustainable Bridge
Design?
1. Unplanned Physical Development at the bridge site
during in-service stage,
2. Exclusion of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems,
3. Non-involvement of Public and Local Community
Participation,
4. Bridge construction Traffic Delay or Diversion,
5. Noise Pollution,
6. Construction Waste Disposal and
7. Fossil Fuel Consumption during construction,
maintenance and deconstruction stage.
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9. Sustainable Bridge Design: Examples
Wildlife Passage Structure on Highway 97 in Central Oregon, USA. Allow Mule-
deer herd to cross safely from both sides of the forest. Wildlife preservation.
Second Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River in Australia. 300-year
design service life of the bridge – 30% fly ash, 21% blast furnace
slag, Cathodic corrosion protection. Reduction in CO2 emission
Wildlife safe crossing over East Coast Expressway in Malaysia. Animal crossings were sanctioned by government and constructed after a pregnant tiger was
killed with two unborn cubs.
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10. Conclusion
• Bridge Designs today must take a holistic approach by
factoring Environmental, Social and Economic Factors
during the Planning and Design Stage to Construction
and In-service Stage until the decommission of the
structure.
• Bridge Design methods must shift from traditional
bridge design to Sustainable Bridge Design Approach
giving more emphasis on Ecological Balance.
• Collaboration between Civil Engineers utilizing Multi-
disciplinary and Inter-disciplinary practices must be
encouraged by all stakeholders during the initial
planning and design stage.
• Environment-friendly Bridge Designs must be
enforced in all stages of the structure.
• Such engineering innovation will contribute towards
Sustainable Development enhancing lives of people,
providing sustainable economy while maintaining a
balanced environment for present and future
generations.
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11. References
1. Broek vdM, 2012, Design of Sustainable Bridges:
Manual for Civil Engineers, Delft University of
Technology, Delft, Netherlands.
2. Connall J, M Berndt, 2010, Sustainable Bridges: 300-
year Design Life of Second Gateway Bridge, Maunsell
Australia Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia.
3. Karas S, Bohatkiewicz J, 2016, Sustainable Bridge
Design, Lublin University of Technology, Lublin,
Poland.
4. Louis R, 2010, Sustainable Bridges: Green Links to the
Future, Ohio State University, Ohio, USA.
5. Transportation Association of Canada, 2015, Primer on
Sustainability Considerations for Bridges Guide,
Ottawa, Canada.
6. UNDP, United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals, 2015.
7. www.google.co.jp/search?q=fish+waterways
8. www.google.co.jp/search?q=wildlife+conservation+hig
hways
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12. Thank you all for your Time and Kind Attention
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