Cost action TU1406: quality specifications for roadway bridges, standardization at a european level (bridgespec) – performance indicators

During implementation of asset management strategies, maintenance actions are required in order to keep assets at desired performance levels. In case of roadway bridges, specific performance indicators are established for their components and compared with performance goals in order to evaluate if quality control plans are accomplished. In Europe there is a large disparity regarding the way these indicators are quantified and how such goals are specified. Therefore, due to the considerable number of methodologies, arises COST Action “TU1406: Quality specifications for roadway bridges, standardization at a European level (BridgeSpec)” which aims to bring together, for the first time, both research and practicing community in order to accelerate the establishment of a European guideline in this subject. It is therefore intended to proceed with the identification and description of these indicators, addressing the way they are assessed (e.g. visual inspection, non-destructive tests and monitoring systems), with what frequency, what values are generally obtained and, finally, some general recommendations with the aim of establishing a new European standard in bridge condition assessment