Journal of Infrastructure Systems

This paper focuses on trenchless technology cost savings due to elimination of traffic disruptions associated with utility cuts. Typical construction durations and traffic control plans for two lane roads have been utilized to develop equations for calculating traffic disruptions. The results show that as traffic levels increase, the user delay costs can be significant. It is suggested that the methodology presented can enable the decision maker to consider total costs, including user delay costs associated with typical traffic control plans, and that in certain cases this can make trenchless technology the most economic alternative.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is developing uniform condition assessment procedures for many of its civil works structures. The collected data are to be used in conjunction with other methodologies to focus and prioritize operations and maintenance expenditures for a wide variety of a large number of (often multipurpose) structures. The condition assessment is based upon objective and repeatable measurements, which, when processed by an algorithm, produce a numeric indicator, the Condition Index (CI). The CI is a number between 0 and 100 that is a gauge of the physical deterioration of a structure. For many structural components the CI also serves as an index of functional performance. As an indicator of the condition of the structure (or functionality) the CIs are useful to maintenance managers and engineers at all hierarchical levels of management within the Corps. This article reviews the inception, approach, development, and current status of the Corps of Engineers CI program. Illustrative examples describing the development of CI inspection methods and rating algorithms are provided for steel sheet pile and lock miter gate inland navigation structures. The expected and realized benefits from the implementation of CI inspections are enumerated. The goal of forecasting economic returns on investments in the operation and maintenance of civil works projects is also discussed.

A prototype methodology for integrating highway infrastructure management activities has been developed. This paper describes the analytical procedures and data integration and presentation methods as well as the geographic information system- (GIS-) based software system that ties together and implements the data and management procedures. Together these elements comprise the new methodology. There are four major areas of integration considered in the methodology: (1) Integrated computerized system; (2) network-level integration; (3) project-level integration; and (4) multiple performance measures. The network-level integration involves performing trade-off analysis to select candidate projects from various highway infrastructure components. The project-level integration includes identifying adjacent improvement projects from various infrastructure components that can be implemented simultaneously to reduce traffic disruptions. The project-level integration is performed in a spatial manner using GIS capabilities. The integrated system approach developed in this study for the management of highway assets was applied to five infrastructure components (pavements, bridges, culverts, intersections, and signs) of the state highway system in Champaign County in central Illinois. The sample highway application showed that coordinating project implementation is beneficial for highway agencies and users. It reduces disruption to normal traffic flow caused by rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in a 5-year program by 20%.

The National Research Council Canada has recently completed a project to assist the city of Montreal in determining the condition of its water and sewer system. The National Research Council Canada staff members reviewed available and developing diagnostic techniques for both systems, conducted experiments on nondestructive evaluation methods and provided general scientific advice during the course of the project. This paper presents a review of current technologies for inspecting brick, concrete, and vitrified clay sewer systems, including the results of three experimental investigations. The results of the review are given in a tabular form that lists the applications, advantages, and disadvantages of each technique. Current and developing technologies are described that will supplement or replace closed circuit television inspection for determining the condition of sewer pipes through inspection of their internal pipe walls. In addition, techniques that allow sewer operators to investigate the pipe wall condition throughout the wall's thickness (rather than just on the inner surface) and to determine whether voids exist behind the pipe wall are described.

This paper presents the development of a computer-aided facilities inspection system based on Web-centric technologies and pen-based computers. The system, called Field Inspection Reporting System, was field tested at the Boulder campus of the University of Colorado. More than 20 employees from the Department of Facilities Management at the University of Colorado participated in the 2-month study that included 18 building inspections in the mechanical, electrical, and architectural areas. Results show an improved process with better quality, greater speed, enhanced service, and lower cost. The Field Inspection Reporting System demonstrates the viability of Web-centric technologies to support complex processes. When a Web-centric system is implemented, there is a paradigm shift from isolation to collaboration. The characteristics of this new paradigm shift were found to be centered on the concepts of ownership, accessibility, availability, and timeliness of information together with the notions of process implementation and control.