Category Archives: Newport Transporter

The D-Day!

At around 4:00 AM I panicked since the poster was still pending. I stopped working on the model and started with the poster, based on the email received from Damian, the previous evening. For the poster, I also had to scan and collate all our hand drawn sketches that would show the sequence of the design evolution.  By 7:30 AM, the poster had taken shape and it was about time to leave as the drive would take over an hour. I looked visibly tired and my partner for life offered to drive me and the model to Brighton! Since we were to report at 8 am and I could not have made it at that hour, Damian volunteered to arrive early to represent our team. When I arrived with the model at 9, he was sitting in the café. The cleaning lady shooed him away from the studio at 8 saying he was too early and students are only allowed there for 9 AM start! Poor Damian!

Earlier that morning Joe had sent me an email urging me to not make him speak in front of the jury as he had a massive public speaking phobia. I did not get a chance to read the email before meeting him. When the students from Hazelwick arrived, Joe approached me again with the same request. Even Katie was reluctant to take part in the presentation. I had pulled off the previous night and managed to complete the model and poster to a reasonable detail, but was completely knackered in the morning. I barely had the energy to persuade the two for the presentation talk. Taylor was most prepared and had no inhibition in facing the jury. This gave me some boost. Damian agreed to take over as soon as I had introduced the group for the presentation.

Dr Poorang got in at 9:00 AM to arrange the studio furniture for displaying our posters and models for an 11:00 am start. I continued giving finishing touches to the main model, Damian went to reprographics to print off the poster and the youngsters helped Dr Poorang in the room arrangement. Before the presentation our group had a few minutes’ discussion about the order in which we would present.

This is what our poster looked like; composed using Adobe in-design and complete write-up was Damian’s contribution (Smita, 2016)

Dr Poorang taking photos of our completed model while Alex and the Hazelwick teachers look on (Smita, 2016)

Birds’ eye view of our completed model. Modelling artists: Smita, Katie & Joe (Smita, 2016)

View of model from different angles showing detail of masts, staircase/lift block and suspension cables. (Left) Also demonstrating how the ramp merges with the Lewes road sidewalk (Smita, 2016)

View of model showing the Watts Car park side ramp (Smita, 2016)

View of model from an approximate human height viewing angle (Smita, 2016)

At the stroke of 11:00, we all stood in silence for two minutes to pay our respect to the brave soldiers who fought the world wars. It was 11^th of November; a day observed as ‘Remembrance Day’.

Soon after each group started presenting their work and we found the jury actively involved. Our group was the last in the order. With every passing minute my condition was getting worse. However, our team managed to perform reasonable well. I introduced the team ‘Newport Transporter’ and immediately after Damian started explaining the whole process of our design proposal starting with precedent studies through the shaping of the form and structural system not missing to include the point about conformity to building regulations and the manual for bridge design.

I took up from the point on explaining the footbridge location and also described the design. Then I requested Katie, Joe and Taylor to say whatever they could and to my surprise Joe and Katie managed a few lines each! They spoke of their precedent study without actually going into any details and also about their contribution to the model. Taylor as expected was most impressive and was the only one of the three who answered a jury question. Damian then described the detailed model and when it was time for jury questions, I answered most of the questions.

Highlights and learning from Day 5

In the hindsight I do think that a good night’s sleep and better planning for the presentation was needed. If I was in a healthier shape, I could have probably persuaded and prepared the entire team to face the Jury. However, I was extremely satisfied with the contribution and dedication of all members of our team. The Hazelwick members prepared for the Jury by themselves without any help from either me or Damian as both of us were busy trying to complete the work. Our team was one of the best performers of the day. All’s well that ends well!

An artist’s impression of the bridge in its tentative geo-location (Illustration by Smita)

Conclusion- The Final Take-away:

• As a team in-charge is important to establish a good rapport with all the members and make them feel important. This helps in their confidence building and results in maximum work output.
• It is important to assess the strengths of the team members and distribute the tasks so that each team member enjoys the tasks, feels involved and has the opportunity to express himself/herself and contribute his/her skills to the project.
• There are times when thing do not happen the way we conceive. It is vital to be calm and patient especially during such times as this will pass too!
• Given more time, most of us claim to come up with better design solutions. What we accomplish within a finite timeframe, under pressure, defines our ability. The solution we present must fulfil all the required conditions of the design brief. Pressure situations are common in the real world and this group project is a learning for life!
• Communication, presentation and public speaking skills are vital for success in any profession. Due importance should be given to communicate and present the work to the audience. Research of the composition of the audience, their background and interests would help in selecting the appropriate focus areas in communication and presentation, and also in anticipating questions that may come up and being prepared for answering the same.     

The Modelling Workshop

An update on our group-work status to Dr Poorang in studio M21 Cockcroft preceded our day in the modelling workshop. Our young team members from Hazelwick school joined us. Damian and I quickly ran through the final designs; especially the deck design before cracking on the model. All the material we required was brought from home and tools were borrowed from Dave; the fun-loving technician and workshop co-ordinator. We were to produce two models; one that was a complete footbridge in association with site; and the other a large scale model of a design detail. We agreed that one youngster would work on the 1:10 scale detailed model with Damian and the other two would help me in making the site model. A 600×1200 mm size base cut out of chipboard was provided for our site models. Taylor wrapped the edges of the board with masking tape so no one would get splinters in their fingers. I did some quick single line CAD drawings which would help in building an accurate model.

Single line CAD drawings helped in building an accurate model (Smita, 2016)

Our chosen materials for modelling were: mount-board, foam-board to represent steel plate construction, thin square sections of sticks, wire to represent cable, nails for connectors, sawdust for surface finish, PVA glue and UHU glue, transparent plastic sheet for glass, aluminium paint on steel sections (to be used only outside the workshop for health and safety reasons), and foam-board, paint and coloured paper for the site and topography. Taylor’s cutting techniques were much admired by Damian while Katie and Joe used their fine motor skills on delicate sections like the staircase, stairwell and the bridge deck railings. Damian managed to give the final touches to the detailed model that he was working on, while the complete model with site was still in its infancy. Before Hazelwick left for the day, I instructed our group members on preparing for the presentation for the day after.

Modelling Workshop: Materials to be used for model making (Smita, 2016)

Modelling Workshop: (Left) Structural system for the bridge taking shape, (Right) Taylor working on the bridge deck detailed model (Smita, 2016)

Modelling Workshop: (Left) Katie working on the staircase block & (Right) Joe working on the deck section for the main model (Smita, 2016)

Modelling workshop: Bridge deck section detailed model (scale 1:10) was built by Damian and Taylor and completed before end of the day (Smita, 2016)

Highlights and learning from Day 3

Today my work-assigning ability was put to test. I had to focus on my own work as model making requires concentration and proficiency. At the same time, I had to make sure that the tasks assigned to our young members were being executed well and that they had enough work so we could make the most out of their time! The youngsters outperformed our expectations and both Damian and I were pleased with their work. My previous experience in model making proved handy while Damian improved on his technique. Dave the technician kept us entertained and we received plenty of moral support from Dr Poorang and Mr. Noel Painting.

Our detailed model was ready and most components of our larger model had taken shape. The challenge of putting everything together awaited.

Execution Day Challenges:

Early in the morning on Thursday, I visited the student shop in Mithras house to procure some more material that was required to build the base and the site topography. I had informed Damian beforehand about my delayed arrival due to the detour and found him waiting in the modelling studio when I finally got in at twenty past nine. Since he had completed the detailed model the previous day, we decided that he would start working on the write-up for our poster while I continued working on the main model. He remained in the workshop so he could help me as and when required.

After 2-2 ½ hours of work, I started feeling dizzy and realised that I would not be able to continue working. It would also be dangerous to work in that state for health and safety reasons. Damian figured that something was not right with me and when I informed him about my health, he got a bit worried. I went up to Dr Poorang’s office to inform him about the situation but he was not in and so was the case with Mr. Noel Painting. Apparently my health had gone down due to lack of sleep the previous night as I was too anxious about the following day. Damian and I decided that it was best for me to go home and I offered to take all the material required for the model and continue working at home as soon as I felt better. Damian in the meantime would work on the poster content and email it to me so I could compile it using Adobe in-design. Damian sent across the poster content by late afternoon.

On reaching home, I tried to rest but could not so. I worked on the model all afternoon preparing the base along with the topography. It was important to detail the topography since the ramp lengths, especially on the Mithras house side, were dependent on it. I completed the bridge sections and cut out ramps out of mount board.  With all four columns and staircase/lift blocks in place and ramps attached to the platform, the model took a defined shape just after midnight.

I did not realize that I dozed off on the couch when I sat there to get a little rest. 45-50 minutes of sleep felt good and then I continued to work on the model connecting the two deck sections to it and trying to find suitable material that would represent the steel cables.

Highlights and learning from Day 4

Important issues like health must not be neglected. Sometimes, the most unexpected situations cause disruption in work. It is important to stay committed and meet work deadlines. Care and compassion for co-workers makes a team stronger.

Design Formulation

By Tuesday morning, I had received emails from two members of Hazelwick with their precedent studies and a design sketch from one of them. The emails were proof of their involvement and an interest to learn.

Bridge idea: Katie suggested that our bridge must connect Mithras House, Preston Barracks and the Watts Building (Illustration by Katie)

Damien’s initial sketches of the bridge form (Illustrations by Damien)

Initial sketches: ideas to establish a design and structural form for our pedestrian & cyclist bridge (Illustrations by Smita)

I met Damian in studio M21, equipped with what I had sketched the previous evening. A long session of integrating both our design ideas followed. We looked up the manual on ‘Design criteria for footbridges’ (Vol.2 Section 2, Part 8 BD29/04) prepared by the Highways Agency, in accordance with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and DRD. This manual became the reference for our bridge design criteria right form dimensional standards to material specifications. We also read the relevant sections of the Building regulations approved documents Part A, H, K, M, N and regulation 7. A link to the ‘Preston Barracks Planning Brief’ prepared by Brighton & Hove City Council, in partnership with the University of Brighton was posted in one of the presentation slides from the previous day. This document helped in assessing the future footfall and the pedestrian traffic flow patterns, which helped us in establishing the most suitable location for our proposed bridge.

Building Regulations Approved Documents A, H, K, M, and Regulation 7, sections of which we found relevant to the design of bridges

Manual on ‘Design criteria for footbridges’ (Vol.2 Section 2, Part 8 BD29/04) prepared by the Highways Agency, in accordance with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and DRD

Planning Brief for Preston Barracks prepared by the Brighton and Hove City Council

Sketches illustrating an established location for the bridge, approximate span and minimum clearance required from the top of the road surface (Illustrations by Smita)

Sketch showing proposed location of our bridge in relation to the Watts car park, Mithras House car park (Illustration by Smita)

Our final proposed design for the pedestrian and cyclist footbridge connecting the Watts car park and Mithras House car park (Illustration by Smita)

Final detailed proposal (Illustration by Smita)

By midday we were ready with a full sketch proposal for the footbridge. At our request, Dr Poorang accompanied us to the ‘pod’ on the Cockcroft mezzanine where we discussed our proposal in detail. He gave us sufficient time to explain the whole design to him and then came up with very significant questions. He interrogated us on the design, suitability of the structural form, ramp lengths, material to be used for construction, method of construction, conformity with building regulations. etc. He even ran his own calculation for determining the ramp length in accordance with the Highway Design manual! I believe he was satisfied with all the work we had done thus far. By this time Damian had prepared his own list of questions on topics that he was unsure of during the meeting. We spent some time clarifying the thoughts that clouded his mind then broke for lunch. Mr. Noel Painting paid a visit to the studio later in the afternoon. He looked impressed with the design proposal and even gave us some fantastic ideas when he saw us struggling to accommodate the ramps. At one point he tried in vain to stray us away from our original design idea 🙂 but later confessed that he was only kidding! Mr. Noel Painting is a source of energy and motivation.

Dimensions for the proposed bridge (Illustration by Smita)

Dr Poorang’s inputs from that morning guided us in detailing out buildability and construction materials for our bridge. Our bridge would be 3.5 m wide and 46 m in span. It will be a cantilevered suspension system built in steel. A minimum of 1.4 m height railing will be required since cyclist will also be using the bridge. Deck will be pre-fabricated in two parts and lifted in position using mobile cranes stationed inside the car parking area. This will prevent any major disruption in traffic as the lifting can be done in turn for each side and for the few hours required for the lift, one half of the road can be used for traffic movement. The two deck sections will be bolted where they meet in the centre using heavy steel plate connectors of suitable thickness and bolts. A similar connection system between two deck halves is adopted for the cantilever style Kingsgate footbridge in Durham designed by Ove Arup.

The rest of the afternoon was spent designing a suitable deck structure and detailing the drainage, lighting, surface finish etc. By this time, Damian had proved that he was a hardworking and diligent co-worker and I was enjoying working with him. We reworked the ramp lengths to a gradient of 1:12 with intermediate landings as the original 1:20 gradient that we had hoped to provide was not feasible. Although our structural, form and material detailing was more conceptual than technical, we were confident that all of it was practical, safe and buildable. Before winding up for the evening, we discussed the materials for model making and realized that both of us had some leftovers from the previous BE249 project. We would both bring in material from home and buy more as and when required.

Designing sketches for the bridge deck (Illustrations by Smita)

Designing sketches for the bridge deck (Illustrations by Damian)

Our final design for the bridge deck (Illustrations by Smita)

Highlights and learning from Day 2

I learnt that the more time you spend with someone, the more you get to know about the person and his qualities. I did not know Damian more than what he had himself described during the introductory lecture of BE249 course. Within two days I had started to admire him as a hardworking, eager to learn and a committed person. A positive input, admiration and moral support from Mr. Noel Painting and Dr Poorang made our day. Well begun is half done!

By the end of the day we had accomplished the following tasks:

• Established the best location for our footbridge
• Finalized our proposed design for the footbridge including the width, span and height
• Made sure that the design, materials and structure were compliant with Standards for Highway BD29/04 and all relevant sections of building reg. approved documents
• Detailed the deck design including handrail height and material for construction
• Discussed the most suitable, cost-effective lifting solution for the deck sections that would cause minimum traffic disruptions
• Discussed materials that we would be using for model making.

During the design week held between 7th – 11th November, 2016, at the University of Brighton (UoB), we had to undertake an architectural design project that required designing, preparation of a physical model and preparation of a poster explaining the design and the model making process. The project was planned as a group activity and also involved a presentation by each group to a jury panel on the final day. Our group consisted of two members from the UoB including myself and three 6^th form members from Hazelwick School; who joined us on Monday, Wednesday and for the presentation on Friday. I had been appointed as the group in-charge.

View of the Newport Transporter Bridge (Newport City Council, 2016)

Newport Transporter Bridge: Gondola suspended on cables (Newsquest Wales, July 2015)

All the groups were named after prominent bridges for motivation and to provide a professional feel. Our group was named as the ‘Newport Transporter’. Transporter bridges are movable bridges that work like ferries suspended on cables slung from tall towers, and are used to move people and goods from one bank of a river to the other. This arrangement allows for ships to pass underneath and eliminates the need to build long approach ramps that are otherwise required to build a conventional bridge that high. The gondola or platform is pulled using hauling cables attached to the motors running it.

Blog:
Monday 7th November:

On the first day of our 3 day trip to Brighton university for architectural design week, we were given a brief and a help pack regarding the week. Then we were introduced to the foundations of bridges by a lecture in which we were shown different types of bridges and the different parts of them and their functions. We then were grouped up with 3 of us sixth formers and 2 uni students. When we got together in our groups we went back over the brief we were given at the start of the day. After we realised what we have to achieve by the end of the week, we went out onto the site for where the bridge is going to have to go to connect the areas together to get a idea and inspiration for our design ideas for our teams bridge. These images show where we have to place the bridge to gain access between the sites.




After thinking of some brief designs in our group, we were assigned tasks to complete in the time between our next visit which is Tuesday as we are not here on Tuesday. I was asked to look at different footbridges and produce a precedent idea PowerPoint on a footbridge of my choice which I completed and sent to our group via email. My footbridge of choice was Webb bridge of Melbourne Australia which is a very complex structure. From our first day of the trip I was able to gain a fair understanding of what is needed in bridges and why as well as the way that university works as it is completely different to school and it was a valuable experience.

Wednesday 9th November:

On our second day back at Brighton university we were aiming to complete different tasks to the previous visit. This time we are going to build the model of our bridge (not to scale) out of materials such as timber, foam board, glue, electrical wire in casing and a few other materials. As we weren’t at the university on Tuesday, the two uni students who are part of our group designed the concept and design idea for our bridge. The bridge they designed was very well produced and you can tell a lot of thought and time went into it. When we went over the plans for the day, we made our way over to the workshop/lab and started working on the model bridge. We were each assigned jobs to do, I was asked to cut out the various shapes for our model which were drawn out by Damien who was one of the two uni students. I used a Stanley knife to cut these shapes out as well as a safety blade which allows a smoother cut to the materials. Then when I was cutting out these rectangles to stick together to form a t shape for supporting the bridge, I used material glue to hold them together. I also cut out these shapes to support the bridge cables and supports. Also using the Stanley knife and safety ruler.


Friday 11th November:
on our final day of our design week at Brighton university, we made our way to the uni and when we arrived we met up with our group again and went over finishing touches for our model. For example, adding the cable to the bridge for support and also placing the main pathway of the bridge between the two platforms. In addition to this, the poster was also being completed by computer. As a result of completing this I was able to understand what it is like to finish off projects at a university level.