Development of a Statewide Bridge Database and Data Retrieval System

009742712003PDFTech ReportFHWA/CA/OR-, UTCA Report 02403930519Bridge foundationsCostsDatabasesGeographic information systemsPilot studiesTables (Data)BridgesBridge substructuresAdministration and ManagementBridges and other structuresDesignFinanceGeotechnologyHighwaysI10: Economics and AdministrationI24: Design of Bridges and Retaining WallsAlabamaUnited StatesUniversity Transportation Center for AlabamaGraettinger, AndrewSimmons, ScottUniversity Transportation Center for AlabamaAlabama. Dept. of TransportationBTS Data DirectoryThe Alabama Department of Transportation has amassed significant quantities of information related to geotechnical subsurface data, construction drawings, and design information for transportation projects. The data are in paper format that makes it difficult to locate and to use in the design of new projects. This research project developed a pilot-scale agency-specific geographic information system (GIS)-based tool for a statewide geotechnical database and data retrieval system that can be expanded to include virtually all of the geotechnical and subsurface structural information from across the State of Alabama. This new geotechnical-GIS (Geo-GIS) application is a tool for storing both graphical and attribute geotechnical data that can be accessed both spatially and through queries. This pilot study collected data from eight projects, which involved 18 bridges across the State of Alabama. The Geo-GIS was designed with four GIS point layers: project, bridge, foundation, and soil boring. All layers are linked to attribute database tables that have six to ten columns of object specific data. The layers are also linked to an HTML page to access pre-construction and construction reports for the projects and bridges, respectively. This pilot study also investigated the level of effort and the file storage requirements for extending the scope of this project to the more than 18,000 bridges statewide, with a total estimated cost of $1.15 million.78