Dr. Robin Sham, the Bridge Man: Interview on Engineering Matters podcast
In the latest episode of the Engineering Matters podcast, AECOM’s Global Long Span and Specialty Bridges Director, Dr. Robin Sham discusses his work on some of the world’s most iconic bridges over the last twenty years, and his ambitions to push the boundaries of what is possible in bridge design and construction even further in the future.
Recognised as an engineering superhero in 2018 by the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) for his award-winning work to transform long span bridge construction over the last two decades, Dr. Robin Sham is a man with a mission — to go where no engineer has gone before in designing and building the world’s most innovative bridges.
Taking inspiration from sources as diverse as a circus trapeze and a tunnel in the sky, Dr. Sham has established a career of firsts. This includes pioneering the, world’s first, all fibre-composite cable-stayed Aberfeldy Bridge in Scotland, incorporating wind barriers into the structure of the Second Severn Crossing — connecting England and Wales, developing the Stonecutters and Sutong Bridges, then the two longest cable-stayed bridges ever built, and successfully meeting the almost-impossible deadlines of delivering the legendary Kap Shui Mun Bridge and Ma Wan Viaduct in Hong Kong.
In an interview with the Engineering Matters podcast, Dr. Sham talks about these and other mega projects in more detail, and how he applies the learnings and experiences of each project to the next to keep pushing the art of what is possible, with these incredibly complex bridges.
Elements of this genius could be seen in his 2016 design of a 31-metre Guinness World Record-breaking suspension bridge made entirely of LEGO® bricks. The structure was the centrepiece of an ICE exhibition celebrating civil engineers who have created some of the world’s greatest bridges.
Driven to realise the physical and emotional power of bridges to connect people and drive countries’ growth and development, Dr. Sham also talks in the podcast about his desire to create new types of bridges, covering larger distances more efficiently than ever before, and progressing the theory and practice of third generation suspension bridges in the future.
You can listen to the full interview with Dr. Sham here, and share his staunch enthusiasm and boundless imagination.
If you would like to learn more about innovative bridge design, contact robin.sham@aecom.com
The Engineering Matters podcast is hosted by Reby Media, with support from ICE.