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BrIM implementation for documentation of bridge condition for inspection

International Construction Specialty Conference (5th : 2015 : Vancouver, B.C.); Canadian Society for Civil Engineering

Bridge condition inspection data provide critical and rich information for assessing structural condition. Currently, the majority of bridge inspection methods use printed checklists, and their interpretation is labor intensive, subject to personal judgment, and prone to error. To realize the full benefits of bridge inspections, there is a need to automate the data management process. This study implements Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) technology for bridge inspections and compare it to the conventional approach of paper checklists. The environment combines a 3D representation of the infrastructure, and allows the integration of inspection data, such as the presence, type, severity, and localization of damage and previous maintenance decisions. In this paper, we use the acronym BrIM to refer to the database that integrates a 3D bridge model and bridge element condition data. In order to validate our approach, we obtained 2D drawings and previous inspection and maintenance data from two bridges located in Ames, Iowa, and modeled them using Revit. We then synced both models using cloud-based solutions so that we could access them from tablet computers on-site. Then, we tested the BrIM based inspection methodology with Iowa DOT engineers and bridge inspectors, who confirmed that BrIM can be used to automatically query, sort, evaluate and send information to decision makers. Furthermore, we conducted a short survey with several DOT engineers and bridge inspectors regarding with possible expected benefits of using 3D BrIM based solutions for inspections. It is concluded that this methodology will substantially improve bridge assessment and maintenance operations, resulting in reduction of costs associated with bridge assessment, and improvement structural resiliency by enabling more effective maintenance and repair operations.

Text

2015-11-25

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/53751

Froese, T. M., Newton, L., Sadeghpour, F. & Vanier, D. J. (EDs.) (2015). Proceedings of ICSC15: The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering 5th International/11th Construction Specialty Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. June 7-10.

Faculty; Other

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