KARACHI, June 21: The NED University of Engineering and Technology has developed a software for management of data regarding bridges in the country, especially those located in Karachi.

The software was introduced and discussed on the concluding day of a five-day workshop on “Computer aided analysis and design on bridges”. During the conduct of workshop, participants from different private and public sector organizations, including those dealing with highway projects, were provided with consolidated theoretical background and practical knowledge on the computer aided modelling, analysis and design on bridge structures.

The co-chairman of the civil engineering department of the university, Dr S H Lodhi, gave details of a survey pertaining to bridges in Karachi, conducted by his department a couple of years back, and highlighted different bridge monitoring aspects.

Introducing the Bridge Database Management System (BDMS) software, Muhammad Ammad, a civil engineer, said that it was developed under the guidance of Prof S F A Rafeequi, chairman of the civil engineering department. He claimed that he was working further to enhance the software, which was likely to be marketed in September this year.

He said that the software in question had a database structure for storing data, originating from inventory and inspection forms of bridges, so that it could be retrieved whenever needed.

The software is programmed as such that it automatically assigns deficient points to every member of the bridge, he added, saying that all these points are summed up by the software giving the total deficient points and remedial actions.