In many developing regions, small river crossings are essential for access to markets, healthcare and education. However, their design often faces difficulties due to limited resources, lack of infrastructure and insufficient engineering skills. Large, complex bridges are rarely feasible, making small-scale, practical solutions crucial for connectivity and local development. This paper presents a simplified methodology for the preliminary design of small river crossings, suitable for non-specialists such as contractors or local engineers. Offering easy-to-use calculations, design spreadsheets and practical guidelines, the approach reduces technical barriers and ensures safe and durable structures adapted to local needs. Developed as part of the I-FERME project, funded by the Politecnico di Milano and involving multiple scientific disciplines, this work promotes infrastructure development in remote areas and enables local actors to contribute to the progress of their communities.
Conceptual design is an early phase of the design process, in which the broad outlines of function and form of something are articulated. It includes the design of interactions, experiences, processes, and strategies. It involves an understanding of people’s needs and how to meet them with products, services, and processes. Common artifacts of conceptual design are concept sketches and models.[1] (Definition from Wikipedia).
The aim of the international fib Symposium on Conceptual Design of Structures 2025 is to continue a series of symposia open by fib whose the first edition was organized by Prof Hugo Corres Peiretti in Spain in 2019. The following edition was held in Switzerland in 2021. The third edition was in Norway in 2023.
The conceptual design of structures is at the heart of the design process and when the most fundamental and influential decisions are taken for a project. It merges experience, intuition, tradition, site constraints, technical solutions and, above all, the genius and sensitivity of the designers.
Goal
Future structural designers need to cleverer than before. The ambition of the 2025 Symposium is to help young designers to develop and improve skills of conceptual design. Contrary to what many believe, conceptual design abilities may be developed.
Current and future challenges related to the sustainability aspects, better distribution of the resources worldwide, the current utilization of the tools including AI (Artificial Intelligence), new materials, new methods, new entrants.
The fib Conceptual Design Symposium is not just a gathering of minds; the aim of the Symposium is to generate a fruitful exchange event for academics and practitioners from engineering, architecture and other disciplines on the topic of the conceptual design of structures. The idea is to allow a different format of symposium, inviting participants through a series of discussions, presentations, and workshops.
The focus was placed on experiences made particularly during the design process. The discussions reflected how a project emerges, how design decisions are taken, how responsibilities are distributed, how obstacles and constraints are handled, how fundamental design principles are applied and the way the individual members of the design team collaborate.
The fib Conceptual Design Symposium welcomes a diverse range of professionals, structural designers, academics, researchers, and students passionate about concrete and mixed systems design and construction.
Especially young professionals will have the chance to learn from seasoned professionals and contribute their fresh perspectives to the discourse.
EVENT INFORMATION
fib Webinar | Iria Doniak | Precast Concrete Structures: State of the Art in Brazil
Organizing Committee Chair: Íria Doniak Co-Chair: Marcelo Melo Íria Doniak – Abcic/fib |
Technical Committee Chair: Ana Elisabete Jacintho Co-Chair: Fernando Stucchi Akio Kasuga – fib |
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