BIM-based innovative bridge maintenance system using augmented reality technology

Abstract

A smooth transportation system plays a pivotal role in the development of a country since it enables rapid connect among industrial zones or territories. Especially bridges, which commonly has around 50 years’ service life, needs to be paid more attention to maintenance to keep it in a good service state. Nowadays most bridge has its own bridge maintenance system (BMS) but still bridge engineer is challenged by difficulty in term of store the damage records and repair history, as well as assess the current behavior of the structural system. This paper proposed an innovative BMS which using a schematic BIM-based information management system, collaboration with an automate inspection task using augmented reality (AR) device. According to preventive maintenance strategy, a data schema for BIM model was investigated. An integrated digital model is created to store, manipulate and share the inspection data and maintenance history. On another hand, the onsite inspection task is timely performed. The state-of-the-art lies on the versatile capacity in term of real-time data manipulate of AR device. Besides capturing feature, a chain of algorithms based on computer vision is embedded into the AR device, aims to enhance the precision and performance of inspection task. Right after, the technical damage report is fed-back to the management system and assessment model is discussed. A pilot application to an existing cable-stayed bridge is introduced, which is well applied for a year and show a good potential for bridge maintenance.