From rivets to robots - 200 years of bridge engineering
Civil engineers at LJMU brought the future along to an historic celebration of one of Britain’s best-loved bridges.
The Menai Suspension Bridge, designed by Thomas Telford and opened in 1826, marked its 200th anniversary at the weekend, with LJMU construction robots sharing the stage with Wales’ First Minister and other dignitaries.
Staff and students in the School of Engineering and Built Environment joined a commemorative parade across the Suspension Bridge accompanied by robots dogs, which our engineers use for research and teaching in construction.
Robots of this type are increasingly used in dangerous constructions like bridges, says James Hartwell, a senior lecturer in quantity surveying in the School. “They are useful on many levels, from simple tasks like manual labouring but also in site surveying, 3D modelling and inspecting the more dangerous aspects of a site.”
Telford’s bridge is beautiful – one of the world’s first major suspension bridges – but would most likely look completely different with the mechanical and digital technology we now have at our fingertips, according to James.
Praise from First Minister
The LJMU team delivered a range of public engagement activities at the bridge Bicentenary, while our robot dogs were invited as special guests to test a mini bridge constructed on the crossing by local schoolchildren.
The Rt Hon Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, First Minister of Wales, attended and spoke very positively about the LJMU team’s contribution to the event
Senior Lecturer Xinrui Wang said: “Standing on a 200-year-old bridge with robot dogs was a reminder that engineering heritage and modern technology belong in the same conversation — and it is exactly the kind of moment that makes young people curious about the profession.”
