Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Planning the Brooklyn Bridge: John A. Roebling and 19th Century Project Development
David McCullough's popular account of The Great Bridge begins: "A bridge over the East River...had been talked about for nearly as long as anyone could recall." Indeed, the epic story of building the Brooklyn Bridge began before the first caisson was sunk or even the first line surveys. The story of planning the bridge—the private correspondence, political debates, business deals, technological innovations, design proposals—is fascinating in its own right. It serves to highlight several of the facets of John A. Roebling's genius, and is instructive for its parallels with project planning today. Though "public involvement" was not a legal responsibility for 19th century engineers, general readers had ample opportunity to be aware of engineering principles and engineers in society. Newspaper articles of the time contain a remarkable level of engineering detail, down to the design strength of specific bridge members, and they note the ASCE's prominent position in technical review of projects. The successful engineer assumed the broad role of planner and marketer as well as technical expert. Much of the background on planning for the East River Bridge resides in the designer's own history, his confidence in his craft and facility in communicating that craft to the financiers and opinion makers of the day. Roebling's 1867 Report to the President and Directors of the New York Bridge Company is a model project proposal. As with any typical proposal, it summarizes the major planning considerations and engineering features, among them accommodating projected traffic, impacting the least amount of valuable property, and designing the structure to withstand all foreseeable loads. Yet, infused in each technical discussion are a new idea to generate enthusiasm for the possibilities of the project and a strong source of assurance for building the structure in Roebling's way. In this essay I outline the context of the decision to build this particular bridge in this particular place, sketch the vital role that the engineer played in that decision, and propose ways in which these historic events and processes may inform engineers and planners in our time and place.
Planning the Brooklyn Bridge: John A. Roebling and 19th Century Project Development
David McCullough's popular account of The Great Bridge begins: "A bridge over the East River...had been talked about for nearly as long as anyone could recall." Indeed, the epic story of building the Brooklyn Bridge began before the first caisson was sunk or even the first line surveys. The story of planning the bridge—the private correspondence, political debates, business deals, technological innovations, design proposals—is fascinating in its own right. It serves to highlight several of the facets of John A. Roebling's genius, and is instructive for its parallels with project planning today. Though "public involvement" was not a legal responsibility for 19th century engineers, general readers had ample opportunity to be aware of engineering principles and engineers in society. Newspaper articles of the time contain a remarkable level of engineering detail, down to the design strength of specific bridge members, and they note the ASCE's prominent position in technical review of projects. The successful engineer assumed the broad role of planner and marketer as well as technical expert. Much of the background on planning for the East River Bridge resides in the designer's own history, his confidence in his craft and facility in communicating that craft to the financiers and opinion makers of the day. Roebling's 1867 Report to the President and Directors of the New York Bridge Company is a model project proposal. As with any typical proposal, it summarizes the major planning considerations and engineering features, among them accommodating projected traffic, impacting the least amount of valuable property, and designing the structure to withstand all foreseeable loads. Yet, infused in each technical discussion are a new idea to generate enthusiasm for the possibilities of the project and a strong source of assurance for building the structure in Roebling's way. In this essay I outline the context of the decision to build this particular bridge in this particular place, sketch the vital role that the engineer played in that decision, and propose ways in which these historic events and processes may inform engineers and planners in our time and place.
Planning the Brooklyn Bridge: John A. Roebling and 19th Century Project Development
Mumford, Jason L. (Autor:in)
Roebling Project Symposium 2006 ; 2006 ; Brooklyn, New York, United States
John A. Roebling ; 1-12
11.09.2007
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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