A BMS development project with an integrated inspection program

A bridge management system is being developed together with an integrated inspection program. A pilot bridge group consisting of 200 bridges is selected for inspections which are located along the state and provincial roads in Turkey. In addition to visual inspections of the pilot bridges, detailed inspections for 10 deteriorated bridges will also be performed. Detailed inspections will be performed using non-destructive testing equipments. Visual inspections for the pilot bridge group have already been completed. Testing equipments to be used include probes for resistance penetration (for strength evaluation), ultrasonic testing equipment, concrete reinforcement locator and a corrosion measurement device for concrete reinforcement. The web-based bridge management system is partially developed and the bridge inventory is constructed for the pilot bridge group. Matrices containing definitions of Bridge types vs. Element types and Element types vs. Damage types have been constructed and implemented in the BMS. The remaining tasks include the determination of the condition states and transfer of inspection results to the system in terms of condition states. The system is expected to have a prioritization module and an optimization module for bridge maintenance-repair-replacement decisions. The project duration is 2.5 years with a budget of $1,120,000. Project details are presented including budget and time schedules. Project activities consists of: personnel employment, technical and safety training of the personnel, procurement, software and database development, development and integration of an optimization algorithm for maintenance repair and replacement activities, development of the inspection program, field-to-database data transfer, and final testing and implementation. The developed Management System will be used by the General Directorate of Highways to plan and monitor the maintenance and repair of the bridges