Rhode Island Keeps Bridge Data at Its Fingertips
With the touch of a button, bridge inspectors at the Rhode Island
Department of Transportation (DOT) can instantly call up reports on
341 separate bridge inspection items, thanks to a custom-designed
database. For Rhode Island, the database has turned what was often
a cumbersome inspection reporting process into a fast and streamlined
system, making it easier for the State to evaluate its structures
and prepare the annual Structural Inventory and Appraisal reports
required by the Federal Highway Administration.
The database was developed by Supervising Civil Engineer Al Santoro,
who took commercially available software and customized it for Rhode
Island DOT's needs. He then combined the software with an Integrated
Bridge Inspection Information System (IBIIS), which provides optical
support for the database. The IBIIS allows inspectors to scan in photos,
videos, plan sheets, and other items to augment the details contained
in bridge inspection reports. This allows for greater quality control,
as the inspection reports can be compared to the bridge plans and
photos to make sure they are consistent.
The database has also made the reporting process much more efficient.
In the past, each inspection of a particular bridge would start from
scratch with a blank form. Now, inspectors have the benefit of comments
from previous inspections, so that the quality of information on each
bridge gets better as time goes on. "Initially bridge inspectors
thought it would make their job harder, but over time they saw that
it really made their job easier," says Bridge Inspection Engineer
Marc Bruneau.
The detailed reporting system allows a user to pinpoint deficient
portions of a particular bridge. The database differentiates every
beam, girder, bearing, etc., on each span of every bridge. Thus, the
DOT can precisely identify which girders are deficient and where they
are located. And since the advent of the database, inspectors no longer
have to prepare separate deficiency reports. The system generates
these reports automatically, placing deficiencies in three categories:
"Reportable," "Needs Attention," and "Critical."
The database also integrates the inspection process with the maintenance
and planning processes. Repairs that have taken place since the last
inspection are documented in the database and this information is
made available to the bridge inspectors.
Future planned improvements to the system include upgrading it so
that the data can be imported into software programs such as Excel
and broadening access so that other sections of Rhode Island DOT can
link directly to the database.
"Although this system was customized to meet Rhode Island's needs,
I believe it could be adapted for use by other State DOTs," says
Santoro.
For more information, contact Al Santoro at 401-222-2355 (fax: 401-222-1424;
email: asantoro@dot.state.ri.us),
or Marc Bruneau at 401-222-2355 (fax: 401-222-1424; email: mbruneau@dot.state.ri.us).
Other
articles in this issue:
In Brief
In and Out in 72 hours
Rhode Island keeps bridge data at its fingertips
National Pavement Preservation forum II: Protection our investment
New standard adopted for recycled glass in pavements
FHWA course offers new look at pavement preservation
Highway technology calendar
