scholarly journals Evaluation of Illinois Bridge Deterioration Models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gongkang Fu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Probabilistic Models ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Deterministic Models ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Condition Rating ◽  
Bridge Maintenance ◽  
National Bridge Inventory ◽  
Transition Times

The National Bridge Inventory bridge inspection system ranks the condition of bridge components on a scale of zero to nine. The resulting condition ratings represent an important element considered in deciding measures for bridge maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation. Thus, forecasting future condition ratings well is critical to reliable planning for these activities and estimating the costs. The Illinois Department of Transportation currently has deterministic models for this purpose. This study’s objective is to review the current models using condition rating histories gathered from 1980 to 2020 in Illinois for the following bridge components: deck, superstructure, substructure, culvert, and deck beam. The results show the current Illinois Department of Transportation models are inadequate in forecasting condition ratings, producing overestimates of the transition times between two condition rating levels for these components / systems, except for the deck beam, which is underestimated. It is recommended that the mean transition times found in this study from condition rating histories are used to replace the current models as a short-term solution. Further research is recommended to develop probabilistic models as a long-term solution to address observed significant variation or uncertainty in condition rating and transition times between condition rating levels.

Capabilities of Multimedia Pavement Distress Identification Training

1997 ◽  
Vol 1592 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-179
Author(s):  
Angela I. Lake ◽  
Thomas J. Van Dam ◽  
Kathryn A. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Full Detail ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Pavement Condition ◽  
Pavement Distress ◽  
Condition Rating ◽  
Interactive Training ◽  
Multimedia Production ◽  
Technical Material ◽  
Level Of Understanding

In recent years the interactive training capabilities available through multimedia technology have dramatically influenced the way in which technical material is taught. These interactive training programs feature training approaches combining graphics, audio, and video in an electronic environment that allows the user to create an individualized training process customized to each person’s level of understanding and expertise. Procedural changes in collecting pavement distress information and in the pavement condition rating process itself have created an opportunity for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to develop a training package for its pavement distress identification program. This package demonstrates the capabilities of multimedia-based training within the pavement distress identification arena. The compact disc-based tutorial has been created for IDOT using Folio VIEWS multimedia production software and various other application software. The information contained in the program is from the Condition Rating Survey (CRS) distress manual and the Long-Term Pavement Performance program (LTPP) distress identification manual. Both distress identification procedures (CRS and LTPP) are presented in full detail, using text and graphics, to accommodate a greater number of users. The development of the training tutorial is documented, and some of the capabilities of interactive training tools are demonstrated.

scholarly journals Bridge maintenance management based on routine inspection data: a quantitative approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaowei Xu ◽  
Fae Azhari
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Random Variable ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bridge Management ◽  
Condition Rating ◽  
Bridge Maintenance ◽  
Markov Decision ◽  
Working Age ◽  
National Bridge Inventory ◽  
Inspection Data

The United States National Bridge Inventory (NBI) records element-level condition ratings on a scale of 0 to 9, representing failed to excellent conditions. Current bridge management systems apply Markov decision processes to find optimal repair schemes given the condition ratings. The deterioration models used in these approaches fail to consider the effect of structural age. In this study, a condition-based bridge maintenance framework is proposed where the state of a bridge component is defined using a three-dimensional random variable that depicts the working age, condition rating, and initial age. The proportional hazard model with a Weibull baseline hazard function translates the three-dimensional random variable into a single hazard indicator for decision-making. To demonstrate the proposed method, concrete bridge decks were taken as the element of interest. Two optimal hazard criteria help select the repair scheme (essential repair, general repair, or no action) that leads to minimum annual expected life-cycle costs.

Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into State Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Inspection Procedures: Challenges, Implications, and Lessons Learned

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110444
Author(s):  
Michael Plotnikov ◽  
John Collura
Keyword(s):  
State Department ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Highway Bridge ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bridge Inspections

Rapid proliferation of small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) promises to revolutionize traditional methods used to carry out civil engineering surveys and analyses and conduct physical infrastructure inspections. One of the most promising areas of implementation of innovative UAS technology includes the integration of UAS into current state Department of Transportation (DOT) bridge inspections. While regular bridge inspections are paramount for road user safety, many traditional inspection methods and procedures are cumbersome, expensive, and time consuming; present significant hazards to both the traveling public and the inspection personnel; and are disruptive to normal operations of the transportation facilities. The results of recent studies indicate that UAS can serve as a useful tool in many highway bridge inspection procedures, while significantly reducing costs and time and improving safety. The major factors that affect the success of integrating UAS into the bridge inspection process relate to selection of the proper types of UAS platforms and avionics, data collection sensors and processing software, as well as conduct of task-specific pilot training. The paper provides an examination of current standard bridge inspection procedures and protocols currently carried out by state DOTs; an evaluation of state DOT experiences with the integration of UAS technology into bridge inspections; and an assessment of the issues and challenges associated with this technology. It is expected that this paper will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders representing state and federal governments, academia, and industry.

Cost-Effectiveness of Paving Fabrics Used to Control Reflective Cracking

2000 ◽  
Vol 1730 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Buttlar ◽  
Diyar Bozkurt ◽  
Barry J. Dempsey
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Reflective Cracking ◽  
Crack Control ◽  
Condition Rating ◽  
System A ◽  
Rigid Pavements ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Control

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) spends $2 million annually on reflective crack control treatments; however, the cost-effectiveness of these treatments had not been reliably determined. A recent study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of IDOT reflective crack control System A, which consists of a nonwoven polypropylene paving fabric, placed either in strips longitudinally over lane-widening joints or over the entire pavement (area treatment). The study was limited to projects constructed originally as rigid pavements and subsequently rehabilitated with one or more bituminous overlays. Performance of 52 projects across Illinois was assessed through crack mapping and from distress and serviceability data in IDOT’s condition rating survey database. Comparisons of measured reflective cracking in treated and control sections revealed that System A retarded longitudinal reflective widening crack development, but it did not significantly retard transverse reflective cracking, which agrees with earlier studies. However, both strip and area applications of these fabric treatments appeared to improve overall pavement serviceability, and they were estimated to increase rehabilitation life spans by 1.1 and 3.6 years, respectively. Reduction in life-cycle costs was estimated to be 4.4 and 6.2 percent when placed in medium and large quantities, respectively, and to be at a break-even level for small quantities. However, life-cycle benefits were found to be statistically insignificant. Limited permeability testing of field cores taken on severely distressed transverse joints suggested that waterproofing benefits could exist even after crack reflection. This was consistent with the observation that, although serviceability was generally improved with area treatment, crack reflection was not retarded relative to untreated areas.

The Economics of Air Traffic Control

1980 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Angus Hislop
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic Control ◽  
Air Traffic ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Private Industry ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Uk

This paper is based mainly on a study carried out in 1976/7 for the UK Department of Industry into the long-term development of air traffic control systems in Europe by a team drawn from the Civil Aviation Authority, the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment and private industry, in which Coopers and Lybrand provided the economic expertise.Until the early 1970s, air traffic control was almost completely neglected by air transport economists. Economists contributed to the planning of airports and airline operations but not to the third facet of the air transport system. However, in 1970–1, in conjunction with a programme of expansion and improvement of the country's airports and airways, the US Department of Transportation launched a major study of the airport and airways system. This was designed to establish an equitable charging policy between the different categories of user but in the event its recommendations in this area have only recently begun to be followed.

Bridge Inspection and Management System Based on Smart Phone

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanbing Ding ◽  
Ruicong Han ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
Shengyuan Li ◽  
Xuefeng Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Technical Condition ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Condition Rating ◽  
Inspection Process ◽  
Inspection Work ◽  
Inspection Data ◽  
User Friendly

For the traditional inspection methods, the visual inspection data is firstly recorded on the inspection forms and then input manually into computer, which is inefficient and creates errors frequently. This research aims at establishing a smartphone-based bridge inspection and management system that can avoid such inputting errors and facilitate the bridge inspection process. The system enables the inspector to complete the inspection information collection in a portable smart phone. The site photos that related to the investigated structures can be easily added and edited during the inspection work with the help of the smart phone. After the investigation, the inspection report and the technical condition rating of the inspected bridge can be automatically generated. The collected data and the GPS information can be uploaded to the terminal server directly via the mobile network. The interface of the mobile software is user-friendly and easy operation, which provides an opportunity for the public to take part in the bridge inspection work, especially for the bridges in rural and mountainous areas. Then, this paper puts forward the relevant ideas on public participation in bridges’ emergency assessment and disposal after the disaster, which can provide data support for the decision-making and disaster relief work.

Development of Some Performance-Based Material Specifications for High-Performance Concrete Pavement

2003 ◽  
Vol 1834 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasada Rao Rangaraju
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
High Performance Concrete ◽  
Concrete Pavement ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Performance Specifications ◽  
Concrete Materials ◽  
Practical Feasibility

In collaboration with FHWA, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has successfully completed its first experimental high-performance concrete pavement (HPCP) project under the Testing and Evaluation Program (TE-30). This project is one of the 22 projects funded under the TE-30 Program. With a structural design life of 60 years, this HPCP is unique in that it incorporates significant changes to the existing Mn/DOT specifications on concrete materials. Some of the new materials-related specifications developed as a part of this project are based on performance criteria that influence long-term durability of the pavement structure. The background and considerations for selecting the new performance measures are discussed, and test results are presented that evaluate the practical feasibility of establishing and achieving the performance specifications.

scholarly journals Formation, Detection, and Modeling of Submerged Oil: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 642
Author(s):  
Chao Ji ◽  
Cynthia Juyne Beegle-Krause ◽  
James D. Englehardt
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Probabilistic Models ◽  
Deepwater Horizon ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Constant Density ◽  
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill ◽  
Deterministic Models ◽  
In Situ Detection

Submerged oil, oil in the water column (neither at the surface nor on the bottom), was found in the form of oil droplet layers in the mid depths between 900–1300 m in the Gulf of Mexico during and following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The subsurface peeling layers of submerged oil droplets were released from the well blowout plume and moved along constant density layers (also known as isopycnals) in the ocean. The submerged oil layers were a challenge to locate during the oil spill response. To better understand and find submerged oil layers, we review the mechanisms of submerged oil formation, along with detection methods and modeling techniques. The principle formation mechanisms under stratified and cross-current conditions and the concepts for determining the depths of the submerged oil layers are reviewed. Real-time in situ detection methods and various sensors were used to reveal submerged oil characteristics, e.g., colored dissolved organic matter and dissolved oxygen levels. Models are used to locate and to predict the trajectories and concentrations of submerged oil. These include deterministic models based on hydrodynamical theory, and probabilistic models exploiting statistical theory. The theoretical foundations, model inputs and the applicability of these models during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are reviewed, including the pros and cons of these two types of models. Deterministic models provide a comprehensive prediction on the concentrations of the submerged oil and may be calibrated using the field data. Probabilistic models utilize the field observations but only provide the relative concentrations of the submerged oil and potential future locations. We find that the combination of a probabilistic integration of real-time detection with trajectory model output appears to be a promising approach to support emergency response efforts in locating and tracking submerged oil in the field.

Required accuracy of rainfall data for integrated urban drainage modeling

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Rauch ◽  
N. Thurner ◽  
P. Harremoës
Keyword(s):  
Drainage System ◽  
Oxygen Depletion ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Data Series ◽  
Deterministic Models ◽  
Random Deviation ◽  
Measurement Devices ◽  
Comparison Of The Results ◽  
Rain Data

It is standard practice in integrated urban water management to apply mathematical models of the total drainage system for calculating the frequency of occurrence of critical states in the receiving water body. The model input for such computations are long term time-series of rainfall data. However, it is inevitable that those rainfall data measurements deviate from reality. This is a result of inaccuracy of the measurement devices, errors in data transmission, local meteorological effects, etc. In this work we investigate the effect of such uncertainty in the rainfall data on the return period of the occurrence of oxygen depletion in the river due to the drainage of storm water. The errors in the rain data measurements are simulated by means of both stochastic and deterministic models. A comparison of the results obtained from the erroneous data series against the reference data reveals the small effect of random deviation in rain measurements. Only a constant and significant offset of the measured data (greater 20%) has an equally significant effect on the modeling result.

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