Bridge management system

A bridge management system (BMS) is a set of methodologies and procedures for managing information about bridges. Such system is capable of document and process data along the entire life cycle of the structure steps: project design, construction, monitoring, maintenance and end of operation. First used in literature in 1987, the acronym BMS is commonly used in structural engineering to refer to a single or a combination of digital tools and software that support the documentation of every practice related to the single structure. Such software architecture has to meet the needs of road asset managers interested on tracking the serviceability status of bridges through a workflow mainly based on 4 components: data inventory, cost and construction management, structural analysis and assessment and maintenance planning. In the 1990s, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the United States promoted and sponsored PONTIS and BRIDGEIT, two computerized platforms for viaduct inventory and monitoring named BMSs. Data inventory. Cost and construction management. Structural analysis and assessment. Maintenance planning.

Data and information referring to each life cycle step of bridges need to be collected and archived through a flexible approach, making possible to efficiently update and access them. In commonly used BMS, such goal is achieved adopting database solutions that allows the documentation of data in different formats such as texts, images, three dimensional models and more. While the collection of historical documentation and project design of the structure is represented by analogical and digital archives managed by road asset managers, the geometric data input implies the application of topographic techniques through dedicated surveys on the field. In particular, bridge inspections for the 3D reconstruction of a digital twin of the structure usually consists of survey campaigns using global navigation satellite system measurements, ground and drone based photogrammetry and laser scanning. Data management in this phase implies the use of geographic information systems, BIM and computer aided design software, manipulating both 2D and 3D geo referenced data. Resulting products include point clouds and meshes that serves as the basis for building information modeling processes. Bridge surveys can be repeated in different steps of the structure life cycle and their frequency depends on decision making and prioritization of maintenance operation and national guidelines.

An accurate implementation of a virtual digital twin or a BIM model of a structure is considered the starting point for budget management and optimization since the early stage studies on BMS. For example, it provides the opportunity to calculate the total cost materials and specialized operator needed in the construction step, quantifying in advance the expenses and consequently adopting better economic strategies. Moreover, a multi temporal management of information referenced to specific portions of the bridge enables the possibility to define efficient time tables for material delivery planning, project progress monitoring and documentation, construction schedule improvement and workers and experts coordination. In recent BMS applications, sustainability also plays a crucial role in the definition of procedures for cost optimization adopting dedicated approaches such as Life Cycle Assessment, calculation of carbon footprint and energy consumption along the different phase of the bridge life cycle.