Bridge Copilot: Automated Bridge Design & Cost Estimation
Bridge Copilot is a web-based bridge planning tool for structural engineers and state DOTs. It automates the core engineering computations in a Type, Size, and Location (TS&L) study — generating multiple preliminary bridge design alternatives, selecting optimal precast girder sections, producing itemized cost estimates, and running Monte Carlo risk analysis. A type study that takes a senior engineer 1–2 days manually takes Bridge Copilot under 5 minutes.
Who Uses Bridge Copilot
- State DOT engineers preparing or reviewing bridge type studies before committing to PS&E
- Consulting structural engineers producing preliminary cost estimates for proposals and alternatives reports
- Project managers who need P10/P50/P90 cost ranges for capital programming submissions
Core Features
- Automated TS&L concept generation — three bridge alternatives (precast concrete and steel plate girder options) from span length, lane count, and location inputs
- AASHTO LRFD-aligned girder optimization — selects optimal WF section (WF36TDG–WF95TDG) and girder spacing for each span
- Itemized cost estimation — superstructure, substructure, deck, barriers, and mobilization with regional unit cost adjustments by state
- Monte Carlo risk analysis — 10,000 simulations producing P10, P50, and P90 cost ranges for capital programming
- USGS seismic hazard integration — retrieves site PGA, Ss, and S1 automatically from project coordinates
- AASHTO LRFD design critique — scored compliance findings for each generated alternative
- Real-time 3D visualization — interactive bridge model updating live as parameters change
- Export to PDF, Excel, DXF, and IFC — formatted type study package ready for agency submittal
How It Works
Enter your bridge location, total crossing length in feet, and number of traffic lanes. Bridge Copilot retrieves seismic hazard data, applies AASHTO LRFD span-to-depth heuristics, selects girder sections from the standard WF library, calculates construction costs by component, and runs Monte Carlo simulation — all automatically. Compare three alternatives side-by-side, then export a complete TS&L package.
Bridge Copilot is not a final design tool. It operates at the preliminary alternatives phase that precedes detailed design in AASHTOWare, CSiBridge, or LARSA. It produces Class D cost estimates (±20–30%) suitable for alternatives screening and capital budget programming.
Supported Bridge Types
- Precast prestressed concrete wide-flange girder bridges (40–175 ft spans, WF36TDG–WF95TDG)
- Steel plate girder bridges (80–250 ft spans)
- Multi-span continuous configurations (up to 5 spans)
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