Welcome to the Bridge Diaries! I’m Jameelah. Come explore bridges and places with me!
Bridges connect people to wonderful places!
What bridge would you like to cross?
Bridge Types
Bridge Shows
Bridge Glossary
Meet Jameelah
Engineer & Explorer
How to
Be an
Engineer
First, ask yourself “What fascinates me?” Then, start to explore those interests. Often times, the best classroom is outdoors! When you are riding the train or walking in your neighborhood, observe the world around you.
Notice the infrastructure and technology that your family uses daily! Then, discover the type of engineer that makes the technology possible through browsing websites and books. Many engineers explain their crafts in online videos too.
There is a type of engineering that could match any of your interests! Here are a few to start: Civil, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Agricultural, Biomedical, Computer, Environmental, and Industrial.
Make your observations official through education and degree(s)! Engineering is the application of your math and science courses to solve problems in the “real world.”
Key Elementary & High School Courses include: Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Then, pursue a college degree in the discipline of your interest.
College Degrees include: Bachelor of Science in Engineering; Master of Science in Engineering; and/or a Doctorate in Engineering.
Directly after or near graduation, take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam to become an Engineer-in-Training (EIT).
It is never too early to write your resume. It is a document that summarizes your academic and professional accomplishments for potential employers.
Visit Career Resource pages on university websites for excellent resume samples and guides.
The goal of your resume is to secure the interview. Ultimately, you are looking to land an internship or full-time job. Paint a great picture of yourself in words! After gaining experience, you may want to start a business of your own.
Join a professional association to learn more about your favorite engineering discipline.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) are great organizations to meet aspiring and practicing engineers. Each of these organizations have pre-college initiatives that cater to elementary and high school students.
When you are ready, set up a professional profile on a site such as LinkedIn to connect with professionals.
After securing the job and working for a few years, apply to take the Professional Engineering Exam.
The NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) website outlines the application process. After studying and passing this 8-hour exam, you will be a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Congratulations!
With this license, you can even start a company of your own and become an entrepreneur!
Trip Tips for Bridge
Sightseers
Google Maps and Google Earth show bridges, neighborhoods, and nearby places to explore on each side of a bridge. Street view works great for planning an in-person trip or for virtual adventures.
Many signature bridges have lookout points and visitor centers. At Chicago’s Michigan Avenue Bridge, there is even a museum in the bridge house!
Whenever you are bridge sightseeing in person, pay close attention to your surroundings and traffic. Pedestrians should stay on the sidewalk and follow traffic rules.
Bridge sightseeing works well as a passenger too! Your eyes are free to wander while riding public transit or in the passenger seat of a vehicle.
Pay attention to the street signs. Street signs give clues about bridges.
Have you ever noticed a sign with a measurement, such as 12′-6″? This measurement may indicate the bridge clearance, which tells drivers of tall vehicles if the vehicle can pass underneath.
Other signs may display a weight, such as 10 tons. This number is the weight limit of the bridge. For example, perhaps traffic demands have increased over time and the bridge was designed in the past to carry less weight.
Every detail of a bridge is specially chosen, even the paint color.
For example, there was a special paint applied to movable bridges in Chicago to prevent rust, and this paint happens to be burgundy in color. So, this color is maintained on many of Chicago’s movable bridges today.
In Oregon, the majority of bridges were painted a special shade of green to echo natural surroundings.
Elevation View: An elevation view is a view of the bridge from the side. You can capture this view by standing on the sidewalk of a parallel bridge, where possible.
Top of Deck: This view of the bridge can be shot right from the safety of a bridge sidewalk. I recommend standing near the end supports (i.e., abutments) for a great shot.
Underside View: There are boat cruises along rivers that offer fantastic views of the underside of a bridge. Check maps for walking trails that pass underneath bridges as well. Take a peek underneath highway overpasses while traveling as a passenger in a vehicle too.
How to Design A Bridge
To design a bridge, it is important to understand the best location. Years of planning feed into the final location of “Point A” and “Point B” for a bridge. The needs of the surrounding community and available funding are also evaluated.
The chosen bridge location will dictate how far the bridge will span. Longer span lengths require more material. For this reason, the shortest distance across a space is preferred. Drawings with a plan view and elevation are created to illustrate a bridge.
Once the span length is known, you can choose the bridge type. Specific bridge types may be better suited for the distance crossed, environment, or budget. For example, suspension bridges are more efficient for long distances. The best material for the superstructure is also considered.
Structural Engineers calculate the loads that a bridge must support. For example, how heavy are the materials the bridge itself is made of? Will the bridge carry pedestrians, vehicles, or trains? Plus, is the location of the bridge very windy?
The answers to these questions fall into three load categories: Dead Loads (e.g., bridge weight), Live Loads (e.g., vehicles), and Environmental Loads (e.g., wind).
Once you know your span length, bridge type, and bridge loads, a set of equations is used to compare the capacity of the bridge to the loads it must carry.
Three methods of bridge equations have evolved over time to accomplish this: Allowable Stress Design (ASD), Load Factor Design (LFD), and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD).
The main difference between the methods is how uncertainty is treated mathematically (or rather how unknown factors in designing a bridge are considered). LRFD is the newest method used to design bridges.
Once the design is completed and checked, a bridge is built. Structural engineers work with construction teams to discuss any Requests for Information (RFI) or questions about the bridge design plans.
After the bridge is constructed, people will have a safe way to travel from Point A to Point B!
Read my Diary!
You are most welcome to read my diary, where I make observations about bridges and fun places they lead to. (Note: This photo is a picture of me walking across a pedestrian bridge that I worked with a team to design!)