WG1 technical report: Performance indicators for roadway bridges of COST Action 1406

[Excerpt] SCOPE: In the past few years, significant worldwide research has been done regarding condition assessment of roadway bridges, namely through the use of non-destructive tests, monitoring systems and visual inspection techniques. Obtained values, which provide information regarding the assessed bridge state condition, are then compared with previously established goals. As a result, there are currently several methodologies to evaluate bridge condition. A similar problem was addressed with roadway pavements in the past. Although this was a worldwide problematic, in Europe it was solved through COST Action 354 (performance indicators for pavements). More recently, the concept of performance indicator was introduced, simplifying communication between consultants, operators and owners. However, large deviations continue to exist on how these indicators are obtained and, therefore, specific actions should be undertaken in order to standardize this procedure. It is verified that Quality Control (QC) plans should always address the assessed performance indicators and pre-specified goals. However, these latter values are even more difficult to obtain as they are highly subjective. (...

Validity of an FFQ assessing the vitamin D intake of young Serbian women living in a region without food fortification: the method of triads model

Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the external validity of an FFQ designed to estimate dietary vitamin D intake compared with a plasma biomarker and three repeated 24 h dietary recalls in women of reproductive age in Serbia, where there is no exposure to food fortified with vitamin D. The method of triads was applied. Design: In a cross-sectional study, 422 women completed the Women and Reproductive Health FFQ (WRH-FFQ) during the winter months. From a representative subgroup (n 44), three 24 h dietary recalls and anthropometric parameters were collected as well as a fasting blood sample for vitamin D biomarker analyses. Correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the dietary methods. Validity coefficients, as a correlation between the measured and estimated 'true' exposure, were calculated using the method of triads. Bland-Altman plots were also constructed. Setting: Three major universities in Serbia. Subjects: Healthy young women (n 422) aged 18-35 years. Results: The WRH-FFQ estimate of vitamin D intake for all participants was 4.0 (SD 3.3) mu g/d and 3.1 (SD 2.3) mu g/d for the subgroup. Bland-Altman plots for these intakes showed high agreement. Validity coefficients for the FFQ, 24 h recall and biomarker were. rho(QI) = 0.847 (95 % CI 0.564, 0.928), rho(RI) = 0.810 (95 % CI 0.537, 0.997) and rho(BI) = 0.499 (95 % CI 0.190, 0.840), while the correlation coefficients were 0.686, 0.422 and 0.404. Conclusions: The FFQ applied in the present study is a valid tool for assessing dietary vitamin D intake in women living in Serbia, a region without mandatory vitamin D food fortification

Performance indicators for road bridges: overview of findings and future progress

One of the main objectives of COST Action TU 1406 is to build a performance indicator database, in order to develop technical recommendations which will specify the performance goals, aiming to provide a methodology with detailed step-by-step explanations for establishment of QC plans for different bridge types. This paper presents the main findings of Working Group 1: Performance Indicators (PI), based on analysis of documents related to bridge maintenance, assessment and management from different European countries through surveying, clustering, homogenization and categorization. In addition, further steps in order to correlate with the objectives of the Working Group 2, whose work is dedicated to revealing Performance Goals (PG), and the Working Group 3, dedicated to the establishment of Quality Control (QC) plans, if is foreseen.Postprint (published version

Performance indicators for road bridges: overview of findings and future progress

One of the main objectives of COST Action TU 1406 is to build a performance indicator database, in order to develop technical recommendations which will specify the performance goals, aiming to provide a methodology with detailed step-by-step explanations for establishment of QC plans for different bridge types. This paper presents the main findings of Working Group 1: Performance Indicators (PI), based on analysis of documents related to bridge maintenance, assessment and management from different European countries through surveying, clustering, homogenization and categorization. In addition, further steps in order to correlate with the objectives of the Working Group 2, whose work is dedicated to revealing Performance Goals (PG), and the Working Group 3, dedicated to the establishment of Quality Control (QC) plans, if is foreseen.Postprint (published version

Performance indicators for road bridges: overview of findings and future progress

One of the main objectives of COST Action TU 1406 is to build a performance indicator database, in order to develop technical recommendations which will specify the performance goals, aiming to provide a methodology with detailed step-by-step explanations for establishment of QC plans for different bridge types. This paper presents the main findings of Working Group 1: Performance Indicators (PI), based on analysis of documents related to bridge maintenance, assessment and management from different European countries through surveying, clustering, homogenization and categorization. In addition, further steps in order to correlate with the objectives of the Working Group 2, whose work is dedicated to revealing Performance Goals (PG), and the Working Group 3, dedicated to the establishment of Quality Control (QC) plans, if is foreseen