Evaluation methodology of the argentinean bridge management system

Abstract

Bridges have important implications for economic, social, cultural, and military activities of a country because they give continuity to highways and roads. These implications depend primarily on the condition of the bridge.Bridges have been found to present a combination of particular characteristics that are not commonly found in other civil works. This combination entails the structural, hydraulic, and traffic safety characteristics of the bridge. For this reason, the bridge condition should be considered from a global point of view, including the aforementioned aspects.Therefore, a bridge in excellent condition means that it presents, simultaneously, a good structural and hydraulic condition, and it ensures a safe circulation of traffic across the bridge. A Bridge Management System (BMS) called ?SIGMA Puentes? was developed in order to aid authorities to properly administrate a budget for maintaining and repairing existing structures while accounting for the aforementioned aspects. It was created as the result of a joint effort by the National University of Córdoba and the National Highway Directorate of Argentina.This paper presents a new methodology for assessing the condition of bridges from a global standpoint. Bridges are evaluated by taking into account structural, social, environmental, traffic safety, and economic aspects considering the bridge as part of a highway system.The proposed evaluation methodology builds upon a group of risk and consequence indicators which give a global condition grade for the bridge. This grade is the principal parameter used to generate a prioritized list of rehabilitation, maintenance, or reconstruction necessities for the Argentinean National Highway System.