The Role of Sensing and Measurement in Achieving FHWA’S Strategic Vision for Highway Infrastructure

Abstract

Like many countries, the United States has implemented a bridge inspection program to collect information on bridges. In the US, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory database is one of the most comprehensive sources of long-term bridge information in the world. In the US the majority of the States have implemented element level inspection programs to support State and local level bridge management programs. A basic limitation of both the NBI and element level approach is that the data collected relies almost totally upon visual inspection techniques. Visual inspection is not quantitative and hidden or otherwise invisible deterioration damage is missed. The non-quantitative, subjective, highly variable, and nonspecific nature of this data makes it inadequate for comprehensive long-term decision support. Essential research necessary to support the information needs for bridge management for the future is a Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program. Sensing and measurement technologies play an essential role in this program.