Development of a Method for Preservation Appraisal of Historic Transportation Structures and Its Application for the Masonry Bridges of Mimar Sinan

Abstract

Social history is closely related to the history of transportation. Since the establishment of the first settlements, bridges have been fundamental elements along established land routes, providing mobility, accessibility, reliability, safety, and comfort to their users over the many elements that act as obstacles along these routes. Supporting commerce, trade, and unfortunately wars, these bridges were instrumental in the efficient use of time, enhancing the possibilities of development and progress through interaction between the groups of people using them. Although quite variable in type and dimensions, bridges are unique elements of civil engineering. The effort required to construct them was and remains very demanding in the time spent, techniques used, and resources consumed. Before the advances in construction methods beginning with the use of iron and steam engines following the Industrial Revolution, stone masonry arch construction with the use of timber false-works, masonry blocks, masonry piers, and timber piles, mechanisms of pulleys and levers provided the fundamental materials and techniques used to construct lasting bridges. Along the many examples of masonry arch bridges from far back in history, there is a unique group of stone masonry bridges dating back to the 16th century and constructed by a single polymath, Mimar Sinan. This article will investigate the characteristics of the bridges built by Sinan and their evaluation for preservation and implementation in contemporary urban life through a proposed preservation appraisal method.