The role of Professor Betancourt in preservation of architectural heritage in historical cities of the world

Abstract

One can address an issue which generates an argument of colleagues-civil engineers, architects and mechanical engineers working with machines. Bridge engineers can also enter the discussion stating that a world-renowned scholar Augustin Betancourt belongs to their “bridge” community. He had an experience of constructing bridges and floors with large spans. His structures and ideas in all these directions of engineering thought were broadly used and even now they are applied in the modern world practice. We can give a lot of examples, as A. Betancourt’s structures and ideas have been used by many engineers including the authors of this paper in their long-term practice of reconstruction of the unique buildings in Russia. There are dozens of buildings and structures only in St. Petersburg and its closest suburbs where A. Betancourt was an author, an advisor, an expert, whose indications were implemented in many projects of urban development. A. Betancourt was actively involved as a head of the Committee for Construction and Hydraulic Works in St. Petersburg. This committee also participated in expert evaluation of development of the largest Russian cities of that time.