ABSTRACT
Structures are one of humankind’s basic needs next to food and clothing, and are a hallmark of civilization. Humans’ structural endeavours to protect themselves from the elements and from their own kind, to bridge streams, to enhance a ruling class and for religious purposes go back to the dawn of humanity. Fundamentally, structures are needed for the following purposes:
• To enclose space for environmental control; • To support people, equipment, materials, etc., at required locations
in space; • To contain and retain materials; • To span land gaps for transport of people, equipment, etc.
