​The bridge construction industry has moved with great speed towards mechanised construction solutions using specialised bridge deck erection equipment to shorten construction programmes and reduce costs. An increased level of knowledge related to these modern construction processes will ensure more efficient use of these methods, facilitate better decision-making processes and improve safety on site. In Bridge Deck Erection Equipment: A best practice guide, international experts provide the industry with best practice advice and guidance to building bridge decks economically, practically and, above all, safely.

Written by members of the IABSE Working Group 6, this book includes material on all aspects of bridge deck design and construction including:

• detailed advice on matters affecting safety
• economic factors for producing best value for all parties involved
• sustainability and efficient use of equipment.
• technical aspects and the transfer of best practice knowledge
• interfaces between engineering of the permanent work and the equipment
• management and efficient control of the bridge-building process.

This highly practical best practice guide will be of interest to all those involved in bridge construction, from bridge owners and contractors to designers, consultants and construction equipment suppliers. It will particularly appeal to those with management responsibility within their companies, while junior bridge engineers will find essential guidance for design and checking procedures.

Want to find out what lessons can be learnt from bridge deck erection equipment accidents that happened in the past? Read co-editor of Bridge Deck Erection Equipment, Max Meyer's, blog where he examines the lessons that can be learnt from various accidents with bridge deck erection equipment to minimise the occurrence of such events in the future.

Book Reviews

This book provides state-of-the-art best-practice guidance on the erection of the decks of medium- and long-span bridges using specialist bridge deck erection equipment. It is aimed at all participants in the erection of bridge decks, from bridge owners to designers, main contractors, permanent works designers, temporary works designers and erection equipment suppliers. The book presents a considerable collection of internationally based best practice that is relevant to the construction of concrete, steel and composite bridge decks. Bridge erection equipment covered includes launching gantries, lifting frames, formwork travellers, moveable scaffolding systems, incremental launching and sliding of completed structures. Extensive use is made of photographs and diagrams to illustrate the text, and safety at all stages in the process of bridge deck erection is emphasised throughout. This is a valuable book which captures the knowledge of a panel of expert authors. It is an important source of reference and will remain so in the future.

Andrew Martin, Cowi, Denmark