Unit question: What makes a designer successful?

Introduction:
The stunning landscape of the Wilsons Promontory National Park has been changed
substantially as a result of the flash floods and landslips after 370mm of rain fell in 24 hours
this week. Dozens of trees have been uprooted, washed away and now lie bundled together
like matchsticks.

The only access point to the national park, the Darby River Bridge, has collapsed as a result
of the extreme weather.
Helicopter evacuations of the 203 people stranded in the park finished yesterday afternoon.
The local police officer said it had been important to start the rescue operation soon after
the deluge ended and the destruction was evident. ''We had a number of school kids for a
start. And the road is cut off and there's no way out,'' he said. ''We can't leave them there.''
The chief executive of Parks Victoria, Bill Jackson, said the park would be closed indefinitely.
Construction of a new bridge is needed as soon as possible.

We need your help!

DESIGN BRIEF:
Parks Victoria has invited your engineering company, to put forward a proposal to design
and build a new bridge over Darby River.
The bridge needs to meet the following requirements:
Budget:
o Parks Victoria has a budget of $75,000 for the project.
Aesthetics:
o Wilsons Promontory is a national park, popular among tourists for its
beautiful rainforests, unspoiled beaches and abundant wildlife. The bridge
design needs to reflect the values of the national park.
Building specifications:
o The bridge needs to
Span the 20m distance between the river banks (equivalent to 20 cm)
Be a two-lane passageway for cars (equivalent to two matchbox cars)
Have a minimum carrying capacity of 15 tonnes (equivalent to 15kg)
Time frame:
o The model bridge and pitch must be completed by the due date to be
considered by Parks Victoria.

PREPARING YOUR PROPOSAL:

Part A: Research (Individual task) OW C
In order to design an appropriate bridge for Wilsons Promontory, you will need to develop
knowledge about the four main types of bridges: Arch, Beam, Suspension & Cable-stayed.
Complete a one sided A4 fact Sheet for each of
the four types of bridges.
Each fact sheet will need to include the following:
Description of this type of bridge, the
main design features (including a picture).
When does this sort of bridge work best?
In what situations would it be suited?
Two examples of this type of bridge (one
Australian example, one World example)

Part B: Budgeting the bridge design (individual task) C

In your group, design a model bridge that meets the needs of Parks Victorias budgeting and
design needs.
Materials available for your model bridge:
Materials
Cost per item ($)
Straws
2,200
Icypole sticks
2,130
String
650
Corrugated cardboard (25cm x 15cm)
20,000
Glue sticks (for hot glue gun)
5,000
Pipe cleaners
2,000

Draw a diagram of your groups bridge design to scale. In presenting your design to
Parks Victoria, multiple views of your bridge would provide best communication of
the aesthetics (e.g. side view, aerial view, etc).
Based on your design, represent your spending in an appropriate format (e.g. table,
column graph, pie graph, etc). Remember to consider your $75,000 budget.
Include all working out.
Your groups budget must be checked and signed by your maths teacher.
Your groups design must be checked and signed by your science teacher,
Once checked, you may order the equipment needed to complete your model
bridge.

Part C: A scale model of the designed bridge (group task) A

Building your bridge:
Each group will need to keep a record of the steps used to build their bridge. You will need
to video your work in class and this will be used to make an iMovie of your bridge design
process.

Part D: The pitch to Parks Victoria (iMovie group task) C

Your iMovie will be completed as a group and will be submitted as part of your assessment,
and should not exceed 3 minutes in length.
Your iMovie needs to include the following:
A convincing presentation to Parks Victoria, showing that you have met their
design brief
o Budget
o Aesthetics
o Building specifications
o Time frame
The steps involved in the assembly of your bridge
The reasons for the choices of materials for each part of your bridge
The final model

Part E: Reflection/ Evaluation (individual task) R

This will be completed in class under test conditions.

Part F: Extended response (Individual task) OW

What do designers need to consider when building structures, such as bridges in national
parks?
Consider at least two of the following factors in your response: moral, ethical, social,
economic, political, cultural and environmental.
(Word limit: 250 words)

Part E: Reflection/ Evaluation (individual task) R

1. Which of the four bridge types, did your group build? Why did you choose this type of
bridge for your design?

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2. What was the most challenging part of drawing your bridge to scale?

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3. a) Your groups final drawing was a critical part of meeting the design brief. How
important was scale in your final design?

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b) On a scale of 1 5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent) rate your design. Explain your
rating.

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4. Construct a table showing the good and bad design features of your bridge design?
GOOD DESIGN FEATURES

BAD DESIGN FEATURES

5. Was symmetry an important part of the final design? Explain.

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6. If you were to repeat this task, what mathematical improvements would you make to
your bridge design to ensure it would meet the design requirements? Explain. (eg.
costing, materials, drawing etc.)

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