Institution of Civil Engineers Yorkshire and Humber Bailey bridge Logistics partner proposal
This scale model of a Bailey bridge provides a real handson experience of civil engineering for young people A high visibility/high impact educational activity for schools Raise the profile of your CSR or community support programmes through the resulting media coverage Partner with us and help realise the potential of this activity
Introduction ICE Yorkshire and Humber has a history of very effective work with schools and we hope to continue, inspiring future generations to take up careers using the STEM subjects as the backbone to career choices. Our team of ambassadors deliver structured activities to pre-19 students, and maintain a strong presence at national events such as the Big Bang and British Science Week. One of our structured activities is the construction and dismantling of a Bailey bridge, which provides a dynamic, hands-on activity that helps the students to use their communication skills, as well as team-working, to build and launch the bridge. (See page three for a full description.) A scale model of a Bailey bridge was made by a group of young apprentices at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (Rotherham being the birthplace of Donald Bailey). ICE Yorkshire and Humber have been using this Bailey bridge for the past 10 years and positive feedback has been received from the students assembling it, the teachers and the ICE ambassadors. The Bailey bridge has the advantage of being a real hands-on experience of civil engineering, with students using nuts and bolts to connect the bridge elements. It can be used for a range of activities, from the use of simple bridge-building methods to exploring the use of this quicklyerected, pre-fabricated structure. It may therefore be used with all levels of students. The Bailey bridge is a large piece of kit, which comes in its own two-wheeled trailer, and we have relied on the goodwill of individuals for storage and transport. We are keen to move from these ad hoc arrangements to something more definite and stable, as is the practice in other regions, and we see an opportunity for a partnering arrangement with a suitable company. We are looking for a logistics partner to help us fully realise the potential of this activity, and this paper outlines the anticipated resource requirements and future plans to enable potential logistics partners to understand their likely commitment. Impact Our Bailey bridge activity is a high-impact, hands-on exercise suitable for ages 11+ We have successfully used it at our Engineering Experience Days which have been held at the National Coal-Mining Museum for England (Wakefield) and the National Railway Museum (York). It has also been used in the White Rose shopping centre (Leeds) The Bailey bridge has been used at larger events, such as science festivals and fairs, e.g. Big Bang at Elvington (York) The Bailey bridge can be used in schools In all of these venues, seeing it erected has created a big impact for passers-by, of which there can be a significant number in public places In the past two years, five events have taken place, including the participation of about 20 schools and over 250 students. 15 ambassadors have supported.
Volunteer and partner resource requirements Carrying out the activity depends on the availability of a suitable number of ICE ambassadors, so bookings will be dependent on this. With a minimum of two ambassadors required, our team can easily cope with the current level of use, i.e. three events per year. Based on this, we would expect the logistics partner to make 3 x 2 = 6 trips per year (i.e. delivery and collection) and to store the trailer for the rest of the year. The activity is run throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region (i.e. Sheffield to Northallerton, Grimsby to Halifax). Note: Partners and sponsors will not be expected to provide the ambassadors for the activity but we would encourage their trainees to become ICE ambassadors, thereby developing personal competences leading to ICE s Professional Review attributes, as well as to personal CPD. Potential benefits The Bailey bridge is a striking activity for participants and passers-by and it always draws interest from the crowd. The company logo would be placed on the trailer and ICE will provide a This is Civil Engineering banner. If the logistics partner wishes to provide branded high visibility vests, this can be arranged. Partners and sponsors will be able to use their support of the Bailey bridge activity to raise the profile of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and general community support programmes, both through the media and in their own internal communications. Previous Bailey bridge appearances have been covered by the press. ICE will be happy to assist companies with press releases and acknowledgement of the support would be made in reports in ICE publications. If the logistics partner also wanted to use this resource in house, this would be acceptable. The ICE would ask that any activity that is carried out using the bridge is noted to the Regional Education Team, with the corresponding number of students involved, as so this can be recorded. The Bailey bridge activity The Bailey bridge is high visibility/high impact. Target age group - Key Stage 3 (12/13 year olds), although it can be altered to suit other key stages. Minimum age for use would be 10 year olds, maximum age would be 16 year olds. The Bailey bridge is constructed of wood and is held together using nuts and bolts. The larger structural members are tied together, and then smaller planks are inserted along the deck area to provide a walkway for the students to then walk across. The initial end of the Bailey Bridge that is put together is on wheels to replicate the launch of the bridge over
bodies of water, showing the students that the bridge can be constructed from one side of the water. The activity is very much hands-on and some background information on health and safety is delivered as part of the event. Schools are encouraged in advance to identify where the activity supports their curriculum and build it into a wider programme, rather than running it as a stand-alone activity. Space can be an issue. Ideally the Bailey bridge should be used outside, but if there is enough space, it can be erected inside. Typical session 1) The activity starts with an introduction by the lead ambassador (preferably on PowerPoint) including a short video (courtesy of Mabey Construction) showing the students how Bailey bridges are constructed and then launched (about 30 minutes). 2) A brief health and safety induction then takes place and students are organised so that each knows before they start what they will be doing (about 15 minutes). 3) PPE is handed out, including ICE hard hats, high visibility vests and gloves, and the students are organised into teams (about 15 minutes). 4) Ambassadors are on hand to provide supervision of individual students and groups. 5) Students hands-on jobs are to put the elements in the right order, assemble the sides of the bridge, connect these together with the deck supports, add the bracing creating the walkway to the outside of the bridge and finally lay the deck surface (about 60 minutes). 6) When complete, the students can walk over the bridge. 7) Post-construction, there is a short conclusion and quiz (about 10 minutes). 8) The students, with the help of the ambassadors, then need to dismantle the bridge, put it back into the trailer and hand in all their PPE (about 20 mins). 9) The session would run as a half-day session for a maximum of 16 students and take between 2½ and 3 hours. This could be shortened to 2 hours if required, as the ambassadors can provide hands-on help. 10) For a typical school day, this activity could comfortably be run twice, and possibly three times, depending on lunchtimes and other school commitments. 11) This activity has been used in conjunction with the Engineering Experience Day and could be adapted for other sessions.
Institution of Civil Engineers Yorkshire and Humber Our vision Civil engineers shaping the world Core purpose To develop and qualify professionals engaged in civil engineering To exchange knowledge and best practice for the creation of a sustainable and built environment To promote our contribution to society worldwide Institution of Civil Engineers Yorkshire and Humber Room 2.10 Cassie Building, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU t +44 (0)191 261 1850 ice.org.uk/yorkshireandhumber Registered charity number 210252. Charity registered in Scotland number SC038629. Printed on paper made from sustainable resources.