BRIDGE EXPERT ANALYSIS AND DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

Alberta Transportation is in the process of developing an expert system that will support the department's bridge management functions. The system's primary objectives are to facilitate consistent and accurate decisions to optimize the allocation of bridge funds, evaluate system performance, and plan and manage bridge construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance actions. The Bridge Expert Analysis and Decision Support (BEADS) system will be a major component of a larger departmentwide integrated Transportation Infrastructure Management System (TIMS) and will routinely interact with the corporate data repository and other TIMS components. In addition to improvement needs related to condition and functionality, the BEADS system will respond to highway network expansion plans and socioeconomic decisions. The BEADS system consists of individual modules that address bridge structure elements and functional limitations. These include the Substructure, Superstructure, Paint, Strength, Bridge Rail, Bridge Width, Vertical Clearance, Replacement, and Culvert Modules. On the basis of existing and predicted condition and functionality states, the modules identify potential work activities, including their timing and cost, throughout the economic life cycle. The Strategy Builder Module then assembles and groups the identified work activities into feasible life-cycle strategies. A life-cycle cost analysis ranks the strategies. Once the project-level analysis results have been determined, a network-level analysis may be performed to facilitate short-term programming, analysis of long-range budget scenarios, evaluation of network status, and assessment of the impact of policy decisions.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec049.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• 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:
  • Loo, T
  • Williamson, D
  • Quinton, R
• Conference:
  • 9th International Bridge Management Conference
  • Location: Orlando, Florida
  • Date: 2003-4-28 to 2003-4-30
• Publication Date: 2003-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 375-389
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: E-C049
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge management systems; Construction management; Decision support systems; Evaluation and assessment; Expert systems; Impacts; Life cycle costing; Long range planning; Optimization; Performance; Policy; Rehabilitation; Short range planning; Socioeconomic factors; Strategic planning
• Identifier Terms: Alberta Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fund allocation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Economics; Finance; Highways; Policy; Society; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00941398
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: E-C049,, IBMC03-036, IBMC03-041
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 21 2003 12:00AM