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REPORT
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
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Publication Number:  FHWA-HRT-15-081    Date:  May 2016
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-15-081
Date: May 2016

 

Synthesis of National and International Methodologies Used for Bridge Health Indices

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FOREWORD

This study was conducted as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program. The LTBP Program is a long-term research effort, authorized by the U.S. Congress under The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act legislation, to collect high-quality bridge data from a representative sample of highway bridges nationwide that will help the bridge community to better understand bridge performance. This report reviews the state-of-the-art with respect to bridge condition indices being used to assess performance of bridges in the United States and other countries. This report should be of interest to bridge program personnel from Federal, State, and local transportation departments as well as to parties engaged in bridge-related research.

Mark Swanlund
Acting Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

 

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HRT-15-081

2. Government Accession No.

N/A

3 Recipient's Catalog No.

N/A

4. Title and Subtitle

Synthesis of National and International Methodologies Used for Bridge Health Indices

5. Report Date

May 2016

6. Performing Organization Code

N/A

7. Author(s)

Chase, S.B., Adu-Gyamfi, Y., Aktan, A.E., and Minaie, E.

8. Performing Organization Report No.

N/A

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Pennoni Associates Inc.
One Drexel Plaza
3001 Market Street, Second Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2897

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

N/A

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-12-D-00030-T-13002

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Literature Review

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HRDI-50

15. Supplementary Notes

FHWA contacts: Susan Lane, HRDI-50, and Yamyra Rodriguez-Otero, HRDI-50.

16. Abstract

Bridge performance measures are important components of any successful Bridge Management System. Different types of performance measures have been developed for various purposes. The types of performance measures are usually a reflection of an agency’s goals. The bridge health or condition index is a type of performance measure used by agencies interested in preserving the condition of bridge structures. Bridge condition index is very attractive because it provides a single index for assessment of the structural and or functional health of a bridge based on the condition of the bridge’s structural elements and the services provided by the bridge. As outlined in the FHWA’s Long-Term Bridge Performance Program, the development of condition indices should be driven by more objective and quantitative data to help bridge managers make informed decisions. This work reviews the state-of-the-art with respect to bridge condition indices being used to assess performance of bridges in the United States and other countries.

17. Key Words

LTBP Program, bridge management, performance measures, health index

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.
http://www.ntis.gov

19. Security Classification
(of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification
(of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

52

22. Price

N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

List of Abbreviations
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ACR average condition rating
ADT average daily traffic
ADTT average daily truck traffic
AGR average group rating
BCFS Bridge Condition Forecasting System
BCI bridge condition index
BCN bridge condition number
BCS bridge condition score
BHI bridge health index
BMS bridge management system
BrM AASHTOWare™ Bridge Management software
CEV current element value
DER degree, extent, and relevancy
ECF element condition factor
ECS element condition score
EIFelement importance factor
FC failure cost
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
FinnraFinnish Road Administration
LTBPLong-Term Bridge Performance
MAP-21Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
NBINational Bridge Inventory
NDEnondestructive evaluation
NJDOTNew Jersey Department of Transportation
SRsufficiency rating
TEQtotal element quantity
TEVtotal element value
UBHIuniversal bridge health index
VicRoadsRoads Corporation of Victoria
WFweighting factor

 

 

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