Civil Engineering Professor Releases Latest Webinars

New educational videos related to the topic of bridge construction are now available, thanks to the efforts of a University of Wyoming professor.

UW Civil and Architectural Engineering Professor Michael Barker recently produced and released two webinars about steel bridges. The videos, “Simple Span Bridge Design With eSPAN140,” and “Historical Life Cycle Costs of Steel and Concrete Girder Bridges,” can be seen on the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) website.

The webinars are aimed at educating bridge owners, engineers, and state and local transportation officials who seek efficiencies to meet demand for bridge repair and replacement projects.

“Simple Span Bridge Design With eSPAN140” details designs for steel bridges up to 140 feet using the free web design tool, eSPAN140. The tool allows bridge owners and designers to compare steel and concrete structures to help them make informed project choices. Barker explains how to use eSPAN140, and highlights three completed bridges designed with it.

In “Historical Life Cycle Costs of Steel and Concrete Girder Bridges,” Barker answers common questions he receives from bridge owners regarding the life service and life cycle costs of steel and concrete bridges. Due to a lack of industry data, he conducted his own comprehensive study to answer these questions. He discusses the study’s objectives, data collection process and database development, provides bridge-cost analysis and shares his research conclusions.

These two video webinars, in addition to his first webinar in the series “Short Span Steel Bridge Economy,” are available to view on the SSSBA video gallery.

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance provides essential information to bridge owners and designers on the unique benefits, innovative designs, cost competitiveness, and performance related to using steel in short span installations up to 140 feet in length.