Pedestrian Bridge - Make It Bridge - Making a Bridge That Connects Communities

Hey! fellow students and judges of the "Make it Bridge" competition! I am Akash Muthukumar, a 13 year old 7th grader of G.M Walters middle school in Fremont , California. I was at first scrolling through instructables looking for the project, self-balancing robot. I then came upon the "Make it Bridge" competition. I was intrigued and clicked on the page. I read the description of the competition. I was thinking to myself,"Why not? Akash?" I thought it could be a great learning experience for me to use my critical thinking and engineering background to solve this inequity/problem. Hope You like my Project! For more details about how I came up look at the ideas and notes I took below and above. I have built this bridge in the horseshoe lake area connecting the alameda creek community with the rare fruit tree grove. A map will be given below.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rainbow+Lake/@37.575439,-122.0152885,16.05z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x808fbf4110edc025:0xad964d08e05e2812!8m2!3d37.5735436!4d-122.0096762!16s%2Fg%2F11rjbrr61l

Here are a list of materials I used:

1. Tinkercad or Autodesk Fusion 360
2. Dar Pedestrian Bridge stl file will be given above
3. Critical Thinking Skills
4. 3d designing Experience- As an author of this instructable, I am expecting you to have prior designing experience
5. 3d printer(optional)- to print the bridge

1.First take the shape, Parabaloid. It kind of looks like a rocket nozzle, so look for something the looks like that. I chose the dimensions to be like this because it worked for me and for me bridge design specifically. But go ahead and play around with it.

2.Then flatten the nozzle to the following dimensions (you should something like in the first picture):

Width: 111.0 mm

Length: 20 mm

Height: 78.0 mm

3.Once that is done get another rocket nozzle and make it a hole. Then squish it to the following dimensions:

Width: 88 mm

Length: 30 mm

Height:76 mm

4. align the hole to the as show in the third image above of the Parabaloid in step 2. Then put them together.

5.Your done with the arch! Make sure to stretch it to what you a arc should look like.

Promoting a deeper relationship between humans and nature: An arch bridge can provide a natural and organic shape that can blend in with the surrounding landscape. Arch can blend in with the natural curve of the Fremont Hills.

This step is really simple for you guys. All you have to do is connect 4 arcs that we made in step 1 to create that aesthetic look for the bridge as show in the introduction. The arcs as told blends in with nature and the surrounding hills. This unique arch shape can attract the community and bring everyone together.

Look at the above picture and duplicate another one of these shapes to create two. This is kind of a criss crossing pattern that overlaps the arcs to create this shape.

In this step, we put the the arch design we created in the last design withe the Dar Pedestrian Bridge in the materials list. Highlight them and use the group tool to put them together. The after part of putting both parts are shown above in the pictures. You might need to change the dimensions of the Dar bridge to be able to fit the accessories in the next step that will add the nature them to our design.

In this step I will be adding accessories to make this design blend in with nature as the area near Alameda Creek and Rainbow lake area is full nature and scenery.

1. Promoting a deeper relationship between humans and nature:I have added mini trees to blend in with surrounding nature. Trees will help to increase green space in urban communities like Fremont and Alameda Creek.
2. Strengthening Social Life and Infrastructure:Next I have added benches and seating to promote gathering of the nearby communities. This will help communities come together as one. The seating also improves the sense of belonging in people.
3. Increasing accessibility and/or a sense of belonging for a user group: Third, I have incorporated lighting elements to improve safety and security at night.
4. Finally I have added a welcome sign to make residents feel welcomed. Also on both sides of the entrance there are design elements to add aesthetics to the bridge.

In this step as shown in the title we will be 3d printing this design you have built. This is an optional step because some people don't have a 3d printer to print this design. Those of you who have a 3d printer will be able to print. If you don't have a multicolor 3d printer. Print it and then start painting. A white 3d printing filament will be convenient. I will also be printing some blocks to rest the bridge on.

Bringing people together across lines of difference: I have also included a ramp like structure to allow the disabled residents to easily walk up the bridge.

Here is an overview of steps to 3d print the bridge:

1. 3d print the bridge
2. 3d print a connectable background like in the pictures above(create your own) or use the the rocky hills file
3. I some things break you can print them separately by separating it out of the bridge
4. Then glue on the accessories
5. On both ends of the bridge add something about an 1/2 inch thick to higher it
6. Assemble
7. Show it off!

Thank you for reading this article! Judges and students. Feel free to ask any questions or comment on what I could do better. If you want to see the brainstorming paper it will be above. Take a look on how I came up with idea. I hope this design can bridge the gap between communities!