Health Assessment and Maintenance Strategy for Bridge Management Systems: Lessons Learned in Taiwan

Abstract

Usually the rating values are determined by visual inspection in most of the bridge management systems (BMSs). A visual inspection is not very objective, and can sometimes result in a different assessment of element condition that may lead to improper prioritization for corrective action. Our novel evaluation results in a more objective condition rating based on visual inspection data. In order to provide an easier way to arrange and prioritize the maintenance schedule among the bridges, the health condition of a bridge needs to be diagnosed in a more practical and more accurate manner. This work utilized systematic classification and statistical analysis based on the thousands of sets of existing bridge inspection data collected in Taiwan over the past five years, with the following goals in mind: (1) develop a normal zone in the health condition shown on the diagnostic figure, and identify the health situation for the bridge using a specific inspection condition; (2) determine the time when the bridge will be in the worst situation, then determine the proper time for maintenance to be carried out; (3) introduce a new data process and innovative model into the BMS in Taiwan, as it will definitely be an asset to be able to estimate reliable maintenance costs in the future.