Structural health monitoring of bridges for improving transportation security

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a promising technology for determining the condition of significant transportation structures objectively for efficient management and preservation of transportation assets. In addition to identifying, locating, and quantifying damage and deterioration due to effects of operation, aging, and natural hazards, the need for taking terrorism-related hazards into account has become evident after 9/11 terrorist attacks. Key transportation facilities like major bridges were identified by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as possible terrorist targets since their loss or even temporary deficiency could lead to major impacts on economy and mobility. Several governmental, local, and private organizations have been working on identifying possible modes of threats, determining and sorting vulnerable structures, and establishing ways to prevent, detect and respond to such attacks. Authorities are also investigating ways to integrate current and future bridge management systems with security surveillance systems. Highway bridges are key links of the transportation system. This paper reviews security measures for bridges and discuss possible integration of structural health and security monitoring for improving security and safety of bridges and emergency management after a natural or man-made disaster

Integration of BRIM and BMS to support bridge´s life-cycle management

[Excerpt] Most of existing Bridge Management Systems (BMS) are software used during the bridge lifecycle. The adaptation of BMS to a digital environment must consider an information exchange format that allows maintaining the interoperability between different stakeholders and their daily tools. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the main method being adopted for that. However, BIM was initially conceived for buildings, thus adaptation efforts are ongoing to also include bridges. The most widely used format for BIM interoperability is IFC. Efforts are ongoing to adapt it to bridges context, namely, with IFCBridge. This paper presents an assessment of the existing knowledge about the applicability of the IFC for modelling bridge data. A review is made to establish the necessary information to describe existing BMS. Then, the IFC schema is evaluated and main limitations are identified and opportunities are discussed

Remote sensing in bridge digitalization: a review

A review of the application of remote sensing technologies in the SHM and management of existing bridges is presented, showing their capabilities and advantages, as well as the main drawbacks when specifically applied to bridge assets. The main sensing technologies used as corresponding platforms are discussed. This is complemented by the presentation of five case studies emphasizing the wide field of application in several bridge typologies and the justification for the selection of the optimal techniques depending on the objectives of the monitoring and assessment of a particular bridge. The review shows the potentiality of remote sensing technologies in the decision-making process regarding optimal interventions in bridge management. The data gathered by them are the mandatory precursors for determining the relevant performance indicators needed for the quality control of these important infrastructure assets.Part of the research and case studies presented here was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (Grant Number 1463493), Transportation Research Board of the National Academies-IDEA Project 222, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Award No. 80NSSC 20K0326, by the European Commission through the ASHVIN project: “Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation & Maintenance using a Digital Twin” an H2020 project under agreement 958161 and by Grant PID2021-126405OB-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. The work has also received support from the MONITORED project, Ref. RED2022-134431-T funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. This research was also financed by the European Union-Next Generation EU, Mission 4 Component 2-CUP E53D23003560006. The study presented was also carried out as part of the program of activities carried out as part of the agreement between the ReLUIS Interuniversity Consortium and the Superior Council of Public Works stipulated pursuant to art. 3 of the Decree of the Minister of Infrastructure no. 578 of 17 December 2020, and the agreement between the ReLUIS Interuniversity Consortium and the Italian Department of Civil Protection. COSMO-SkyMed products have been provided free of charge for research purposes by the Italian Space Agency, Project Card ID: 630 “SAR SHM of bridges”.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraPostprint (published version

Integration of BrIM and BMS to support bridge life-cycle management

The implementation of Bridge Management Systems (BMS) dates back to the 1970s and its adoption is nowadays generalized worldwide. Initially, they were used only as a database but, in the last decades, BMS potential is being highlighted. Tools to perform data analysis, integrating performance prediction models, have been added to the most advanced BMS. These are essential to support bridge managers in scheduling their maintenance interventions thus assuring their functionality conforms to the predefined expectations. Most of the existing BMS are currently software tools able to integrate a set of stakeholders involved during the bridge management. Hence, the adaptation of BMS to a digital environment must consider that aspect. In this regard, choosing an information exchange format that allows taking BMS into a digital context yet maintaining the interoperability between different stakeholders and their tools of preference is mandatory. In the context of construction’s digitalization, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the main method being adopted. However, BIM was initially conceived for buildings, thus adaptation efforts are ongoing to also include other types of constructions, namely, civil infrastructures to which the bridges category belongs. This led to the appearance of the Bridge Information Modelling (BrIM) concept, which represents for bridges what BIM represents for buildings. The most widely used format in the BIM context for interoperability purposes is IFC. IFC is an open format that allows software vendor-independent data exchange. In this context, this paper presents an assessment of the existing knowledge about the applicability of the IFC for modelling bridge data. A review is made to verify the feasibility of using the current IFC version to describe the information contained in BMS. Main limitations are identified, and opportunities discussed, namely how the current IFC schema can be adapted to face the missing entities

Structural health monitoring of in-service tunnels

This work presents an overview of some of the most promising technologies for the structural health monitoring (SHM) of in-service tunnels. The common goal of damage or unusual behaviour detection is best pursued by an integrated approach based on the concurrent deployment of multiple technologies. Typically, traditional SHM systems are installed in problematic or special areas of the tunnels, giving information on conditions and helping manage maintenance. However, these methodologies often have the drawbacks of forcing the interruption of traffic for SHM system installation and monitoring only selected portions. Alternative solutions that would make it possible to keep the tunnel in normal operation and/or to analyse the entire infrastructure development through successive and continuous scanning stages, would be beneficial. In this paper, the authors will briefly review some traditional monitoring technologies for tunnels. Furthermore, the work is aimed at identifying alternative solutions, limiting or avoiding traffic interruptions

Editorial. The crux in bridge and transport network resilience - advancements and future-proof solutions

Bridges and critical transport infrastructure (CTI) are primary infrastructure assets and systems that underpin human mobility and activities. Loss of the functionality of bridges has consequences on the entire transport network, which is also interconnected with other networks, therefore cascading events are expected in the entire system of systems, leading to significant economic losses, business, and societal disruption. Recent natural disasters revealed the vulnerabilities of bridges and CTI to diverse hazards (e.g. floods, blasts, earthquakes), some of which are exacerbated due to climate change. Therefore, the assessment of bridge and network vulnerabilities by quantifying their capacity and functionality loss and adaptation to new requirements and stressors is of paramount importance. In this paper, we try to understand what are the main compound hazards, stressors and threats that influence bridges with short- and long-term impacts on their structural capacity and functionality and the impact of bridge closures on the network operability. We also prioritise the main drivers of bridge restoration and reinstatement, e.g. its importance, structural, resources, organisational factors. The loss of performance, driven by the redundancy and robustness of the bridge, is the first step to be considered in the overall process of resilience quantification. Resourcefulness is the other main component of resilience here analysed

Monitoring Technologies for Smart Cities and Civil Infrastructure Systems

The proportion of urban population in the world is expected to increase from 54% currently to 70% by 2050. A majority of Americans also reside in urban regions - according to the 2010 census 80% of Americans reside in urban areas. Given the large number of urban citizens in the world (and US) it is imperative that we identify solutions to improve the quality of life for urban residents and economic vitality of our cities. Studies to address and fulfill the needs of envisioned future smart city infrastructure should successfully integrate a range of engineering, humanities and sociological fields such as emerging communication technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), cyber security, cloud computing, intelligent transportation, infrastructure monitoring, analyzing tourism, theorizing structures of government and bureaucracy, project financing, public policy development and implementation. In this talk, we will first three overarching themes: (1) technologically advanced infrastructure with sensing and communication capability, (2) urban operations and services improved with better decisions using multilayered “big data”, and (3) utilization of technology for social, public policy, planning and governance to improve urban quality of life. Next, we will present a sampling of relevant U.S. research and education achievements in structural control and monitoring as compiled by U.S. Panel that are envisioned as concepts for smart cities. Finally, we will present our recent work at UCF CITRS in the area of structural health monitoring where novel technologies such as computer vision, deep learning have been developed for our existing and next generation of smart city infrastructure