A simple footbridge over an impassable river can transform isolated rural communities in developing countries, making the difference between accessing health services, education and markets, or not doing so.
An international consultancy has developed a software tool that enables the rapid design of pedestrian suspension bridges offering a route out of poverty for some remote villages.
The software application, BridgeTOOL, was developed by Arup pro bono for the charity Bridges to Prosperity so it can be used to help isolated communities in the global south.
In Rwanda, the 50-metre Muregeya suspension bridge serves a community of 10,000 and is used by 1,500 inhabitants each market day. The bridge was not only designed but also built by Arup volunteers using BridgeTOOL.
But BridgeTOOL isn’t just about building one bridge at a time. It provides a systematic approach to bridge design that can be easily replicated. The software can run on most laptops, requires no specialist knowledge and offers advice on materials, structure and safety. It also acts as a learning resource to inform, teach and train engineers in isolated rural communities.
In Panama, four villages are now connected thanks to the software tool and the work of Arup volunteers to build a suspension footbridge over the river Ciricito. It provides access to local schools, markets and medical facilities.
The drive to develop sustainable and socially useful solutions underpins Arup’s consultancy work in many markets. SoundLab is another example. As part of the consultation process for the UK’s proposed HS2 high-speed rail project, over 20,000 people were given an indication of what the trains will sound like as they speed through their communities. Arup developed a method of playing ambisonic sound over headphones for a travelling roadshow, providing an understanding about the noise impact of high-speed rail.
