Using Information Technologies for Bridge Management in Mexico‘s Royal Roads Built Between XVI and XVIII Century

Abstract

After the establishment of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the 16th century, the interest in precious metals and the mining activities would influence the emerging economic activities and the communications network of the New Spain. All the communications were built based on two mutually perpendicular axes. The first axis, East to West, between Veracruz-Mexico-Acapulco and the other axis, north to South, linked the northern region of the Viceroyalty with Mexico City and to Oaxaca and Guatemala. As part of the road infrastructure needed to get a continuous flow of goods, bridges were very important for crossing rivers, cliffs, and mountains. The fabrication of these structural elements were mainly made using the roman old school. The geometry, length, and materials used were varied, depending on the technical improvements of the time, and local labour expertise. The Vice-regal bridge vestiges are now scattered in the 2 million square km of the Mexican territory. Most of them are still in use, but others were forgotten in the old Royal Roads when they went out of use. This investigation deals with the methodology used (based on information technologies) to create a web-based management system for Viceregal bridges, that is now available to be used in Mexico by the three government levels (Municipality, State, and Federal) and research institutions.

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References

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