Pontis makes a distinction between preservation actions and functional improvements. Preservation actions seek to maintain or restore the physical condition of structure elements. Improvement actions are aimed at making the structure satisfy the current and future functional demands. Preservation actions include maintenance, repair, rehabilitation or replacement of elements or groups of elements. The preservation model identifies the optimal preservation actions based on the objective of minimizing costs. Standard types of functional improvement actions include bridge widening, raising, strengthening and replacement. Programming of improvement actions is based on policy standards, such as lane and shoulder widths, vertical and horizontal clearances, and unit costs and benefits supplied by the user. Pontis is designed to support testing of different combinations of functional improvement policies, and cost and benefit assumptions. Pontis analyzes preservation and improvement alternatives separately, and brings them together in a network analysis.