e-mosty December 2018 e-mosty December 2018 | Page 7

I have taken advanced techniques and introduced
them to developing countries, for example my
signature spine and cantilever deck and the use of
span-by-span erection techniques.
My structures in India are immediately recognisable.
They are bold statements, but economic and have a
suitable aesthetic for their locations.
Perhaps due to the location of many of my structures
they are not as well-known as some others but they
are designed to be of the highest quality no matter the
location. Over many years I have seen that my
reputation in many parts of the world due to my
personal drive to produce exceptional pieces of civil
engineering has influenced and aided others.
This has taken a great deal of effort, more than would
have been necessary to just gain the work, but has
been to show that good engineering is not expensive
or hard, but requires thought and determination.
Partly because of this I have found that it has been
vital for me to personally participate through-out the
project, working with the Contractor and Client to
obtain the best final result.
I have been fortunate that I have been able to work in
a time and environment where I have had sole
responsibility for the concept design, and have directly
led the team for analysis and construction supervision
of hundreds of bridge structures, bridges, and
underpasses and long-span roofs. For each of these
projects work stemmed from sketches and calculations
in my calculation pad followed by a challenge to my
team to make the concept even better.
I have been fortunate to see that my focus on detail,
quality of design, and technical advancement have
helped move forward the standard and engineering
culture in several countries from an attitude of ‘just
acceptable’ to ‘world class’. I am an advocate of
engineering design being driven by engineers, not
architects and aim show this by my work.
Most of my work is in a commercial context where
competition and economy dominate, my contribution
is to apply technical skill and experience to produce
structures which are more economic than my
competitors but also of intriguing form and aesthetic
excellence. I hope that in my work I have helped to
challenge the perception of what an Engineer does
and can create and contribute to society.
A testament to my approach is that my structures look
fresh and exciting even today. When compared to
other concrete bridges of the 1970, 80s or even 90s
my work is very different especially when one thinks
that much of my work was before the advent of CAD
or the analytical capability that we now have.
In almost five decades long engineering career, I have
been exceptionally focussed in realising my dream of
emulating great engineers of the past by adopting a
holistic approach to the design and construction of
structures. I hope that my achievements in realising
works in the Art of Structural Design enthuse, excite
and challenge those that follow me.
I have been personally responsible for the first precast
segmental bridges in India and for bringing world class
design and construction to India to inspire others.
I have worked with contractors to develop their skills,
both technically and to give them confidence to be
able to execute his works.
EXAMPLES OF MY WORK
.
As with all engineers, my approach to bridge design is
best captured looking at my work. For this article two
bridges are examined in more detail to explain my
philosophy: Wadi Abdoun, Jordan, and Sungai Prai,
Malaysia. rare example of innovation in the application of
prestressed and reinforced concrete in directly
providing solutions to practical engineering problems.
It is an example of how experience and knowledge of
the use of materials gives a dramatic but efficient and
elegant solution.
WADI ABDOUN – KAMAL SHAIR BRIDGE, AMMAN
JORDAN It also shows how understanding of construction and
construction methodology is applied at the concept
stage to produce safe and economic execution. I
personally worked with the contractor, to produce the
largest bridge in the country and its first cable-stayed
The Wadi Abdoun Bridge, in Amman, the Capital City
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an outstanding
example of civil engineering design in concrete and a
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