Transferring Research Innovations in Bridge Inspection Planning to Bridge Inspection Practice

Over the last two decades many researchers have focused on providing new ideas and frameworks that can help improve conventional bridge inspection practices; however, little guidance is provided for implementing these new ideas in practice. This, along with resistance to change and complexity of the proposed ideas, resulted in a lack of success in applying new technologies in bridge inspection programs. Accordingly, this qualitative study aims to identify the factors that can help improve research products and accelerate research transfer in bridge inspection departments. This study used semi-structured interviews, written interviews, and questionnaires for data collection to provide rich results. From among different departments of transportation (DOTs), 26 bridge personnel were involved in this study. Although the study focuses on the field of bridge inspection, the findings of this study are expected to have some generalizability to other significant changes to engineering practice at DOTs. Participants stated that collaboration between practitioners and researchers can help improve research products. Also, to facilitate change in transportation organizations, participants suggested that change leaders should focus on showing the need for change, gaining support from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), allocating the required resources, and enhancing the capacity of DOT staff members through training and effective communication.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=1063
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado State University, Fort Collins

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Fort Collins, CO  United States  80525

  Colorado State University, Fort Collins

  Department of Construction Management
  Fort Collins, CO  United States  80523-1584

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Abdallah, Abdelrahman M
  • Ozbek, Mehmet E
  • Atadero, Rebecca A
• Publication Date: 2022-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 60p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge management systems; Data collection; Inspection; Nondestructive tests; State departments of transportation; State of the practice; Technological innovations
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01845311
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC-594, MPC 22-456
• Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 16 2022 4:59PM