Is 'Global Warming" just a lot of hot air?

Many eminent scientists claim that we are heading for disaster - are they right, or wrong?

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Should we worry about renewable energy?

Is it really a long term solution? Will it ever be economically viable?

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Are we doing the right thing for future generations?

Is man-made global warming a proven fact, and if so is it really such a threat to us?

Can Architects Help Protect The Environment?

Pollution caused by car engines is a major threat to the
environment. Sometimes radical architectural projects, which can raise
architects' professional liabilities
issues, can help to
ease the strain by reducing traffic jams and excessive fuel consumption.
Here is one such project.

The Millau Viaduct

The Millau Viaduct is world’s highest and longest bridge.
Located in Millau, France, the cable-stayed bridge is both an engineering
and architectural wonder. The design of the bridge is a huge achievement and
is an indication of the role that architects play in bridge constructions.
The bridge opened in 2004, and its highest point is about 270 meters. It is
2.4 Km long and has two lanes. British architect Norman Forister was
responsible for the design. The bridge design did not just aim for
appearance but functionality and the utilisation of available technology.

The Purpose

The Millau Viaduct serves as a link between Paris and
Barcelona. Initially, the A75 autoroute provided passage across Massif
Central Mountains from Clermont-Ferrand to Beziers. With the Millau
Viaduct, it is possible to cross straight from Paris to Barcelona. The
purpose of the Millau Viaduct was to get people across the River Tarn.
The river runs across two massive plateaus, and it was just imperative
to come up with a way that people could go from one plateau to the other
one.

Before the construction of the Millau Viaduct, there were problems of
traffic congestion at the River Tarn Valley. Traffic queues came about
when there were diversions of traffic off the N9.

The Construction Challenges

The building of the bridge took 38 months, which is a
record for such a structure. The biggest challenge when designing and
constructing the Millau Viaduct was how to get across the expanse of the
River Tarn. The distance from one plateau to another was 2.4Km.
Typically, bridges use two or three pylons, but the Millau Viaduct used
seven, which was the only solution to the distance problem. The bridge
has the world's highest pylon.

The construction of the bridge took into account the effects a straight
road would have. Driving on a straight road would give drivers a
sensation of floating. To avoid that, the bridge has a curve that is
20Km in range and a light incline of 3° for better visibility.

There was pressure to complete the structure in the shortest amount of
time, and that is why the engineers chose to make the deck from steel
instead of concrete. There was pre-construction of the deck pieces,
which reduced the timeframe. Preassembly on the ground meant that there
was less work to do on the site. By using steel rather than concrete,
there was a reduction in costs. The beam was also lighter in weight and
slenderer.

It was necessary to do something that would accommodate the expansion
and contraction of the deck. Engineers split the columns into two to
make them thinner. The installation of windshields on the outside of the
beam was vital in preventing high-sided vehicles from overturning.
Another factor that determined the design was the landscape around the
River Tarn. The condition was that the bridge would not obstruct the
magnificent view. It is why the structure of the bridge looks so
delicate and transparent.

When counting the most impressive structure in modern times, the Millau
Viaduct cannot miss. When it gets misty in the area, the bridge appears
to be floating. Besides being a marvel to look at, and
providing a fast and cheaper way to travel to the Spanish border, it has
helped to reduce atmospheric pollution by thousands of tons of carbon
dioxide annually.