Ir. Ichwan Setiawan, S.T., M.T., took his open doctoral examination at the UNISSULA Civil Engineering Doctoral Program on Tuesday, 27 May 2025. He presented his dissertation on a design model and construction implementation strategy for bridges crossing navigable waterways.
According to Ichwan, field problems include technical obstacles during bridge construction and frequent work adjustments caused by ineffective detailed engineering designs that lack proper guidance. The criteria for optimizing construction management for bridges over navigable waterways are the fundamental requirements for safe, efficient, and economical construction: ease of execution, structural strength, quality and durability, and cost efficiency.
Based on the various conditions and the integration of bridge planning and implementation, a construction management strategy is needed that integrates design models and implementation strategies for bridges over rivers with navigable channels and adjacent roads in a more precise and optimal manner.
The research used Multiple-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Choice. AHP selects the alternative with the shortest Euclidean distance from the ideal solution and the greatest distance from the negative ideal solution. After collecting questionnaire data from 70 respondents, the weights of alternatives for bridge superstructure types and configurations, as well as the criteria weights for abutments, were determined using the analytical hierarchy process.
The results show that when construction requires more than 3 meters of vertical clearance, a multi-span bridge should be used, with a curved girder as the main span, two additional piers, and approach spans using pile slabs. This allows the abutments to be designed at a normal height and avoids high embankments on the approach section.
The multi-span bridge model with a composite steel curved-girder main span, straight GKI-girder approach spans, and pile slabs was the preferred option for a bridge over a navigable waterway with a road along the riverbank.
The examiners included Prof. Dr. Ir. S. Imam Wahyudi, DEA; Dr. Abdul Rochim, S.T., M.T.; Prof. Pratikso, M.ST., Ph.D.; Prof. Dr. Ir. Henny Pratiwi Adi, S.T., M.T.; Dr. Ir. Kartono Wibowo, S.T., M.M., M.T.; Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Haryadi, M.Sc.; and Ir. Syahril Taufiq, M.Sc., Eng., Ph.D.
Ir. Ichwan Setiawan, S.T., M.T., passed the open examination with a GPA of 3.76. He is the 45th graduate of the UNISSULA Civil Engineering Doctoral Program.
