European review of performance indicators towards sustainable road bridge management

Abstract

Within the core of the European transport infrastructure, most roadway bridges have been built as part of the post-World War II reconstruction effort, meaning society is already facing the beginning of the end of their lifetime. Hence, bridge management is becoming more and more influenced by life-cycle multiobjective performance criteria that need to be balanced wisely from a sustainability point of view. This is in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promoted by the UN in 2015 towards a sustainable planet. In this context, a holistic review, at the European level, is given of the different performance levels, supported by national practice codes, guidelines and research accomplishments towards (a) homogenisation of concepts, (b) linking between performance and management and (c) strengthening of the links between costs, reliability and sustainability. Based on this, a holistic framework for performance indicators is proposed supported by hierarchical categorisation and benefiting from the increased utilisation of structural health monitoring. This framework defines the basis for European training on bridge management by addressing some of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the aforementioned 2030 Agenda.