BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: ADVANCING THE SCIENCE

This article discusses the change that is taking place in bridge management. New, sophisticated tools are becoming available to aid in bridge program decision making. These technical advancements in bridge management, coupled with new federal mandates for states to implement bridge management systems (BMSs), have set the stage for the revolution that is now taking place. Convinced of the value of BMSs, state officials have taken a proactive role in initiating studies at both the national and state levels. The AASHTO "Guidelines for Bridge Management Systems", published in 1993, were developed under an NCHRP project. These guidelines present an overview of principles and concepts of bridge management, including recommended minimum requirements. They are especially helpful in detailing the important steps that should be followed for proper implementation of a BMS as a support tool in transportation agencies and in describing alternatives to be considered in the establishment of a BMS. The remainder of this article discusses the federal requirements of a BMS, the tools for BMSs (choices appear to be AASHTO's Pontis or NCHRP's BRIDGIT), data needs to support BMSs, challenges (converting to metric units, refinement of agency cost models), and future directions.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trnews/trnews173-006.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • O'Connor, D
  • Drumm, R
• Publication Date: 1994-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 17-21
• Serial:
  • TR News
  • Issue Number: 173
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826
  • Serial URL: https://doi.org/10.17226/895

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge management systems; Costs; Guidelines; Information, data, and knowledge; Metric system; Software; Specifications
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost models; Data needs; Metric conversion; Requirements
• Old TRIS Terms: Future directions
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Design; Finance; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00667582
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 3 1994 12:00AM