*3.1.1.1 Stone arch bridges*

The first bridges that were built based on mathematics methods were the stone arch. The exact construction date is not known, but there are structures built by civilizations such as the Greeks or the Romans, where they used this type of bridges as aqueducts, roads for people walking and carriages.

The stone arch bridges, as shown in **Figure 3**, take advantage of the compressive capacity of the rock due its geometry, supporting its own weight and live loads. These structures are usually robust and each of the arches supports the upper deck. Some examples of this bridge's type are the Segovia Aqueduct, located in Spain and the Pont Du Gard Aqueduct, located in France, both built between the 1st and 2nd centuries.

**Figure 2.** *View of Mexico City road system [4].*

*Bridges: Structures and Materials, Ancient and Modern DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90718*
