Preventing Carbon Emissions With Imaging-Based Civil Infrastructure Assessment And Evaluation

For concrete bridges without existing plans, simplified and highly conservative load rating (structural evaluation) methods may be used, which can lead to unnecessary load restrictions, unjustifiable strengthening, or in the worst case, preventable replacements. Avoiding these outcomes not only saves money but it prevents carbon emissions from longer travel and construction activities and resources associated with replacement. This presentation discusses a case study of a prestressed concrete bridge that required a load rating, and for which no plans existed. Imaging and image fusion using radar and ultrasonic measurements taken from the top and bottom of the slab were performed to produce a digital cross-section of the bridge. Using this image, the location of the reinforcing steel, as well as the location, size, and content of internal air voids could be determined. After extracting these variables and using them in an improved load rating, load restrictions were found to not be necessary for this bridge. The resulting digital-cross section not only provides useful information for structural evaluations, but it also represents a basis upon which the digitalization of our infrastructure can be achieved.