Bridge integrated analysis and decision support, phase II

Abstract

In 2004, the Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP) initiated project # 0092-04-15, entitled, ?Bridge Integrated Analysis and Decision Support ? Case Histories (Phase I)? at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) to document the existing knowledge related to Wisconsin bridge incidents in the form of a database of case histories. That study was completed in 2007 where for the database for each case study included detailed information on the bridge, past repair and maintenance, description of the events, reporting, and initial and subsequent responses by the responsible parties, and any resulting remediation. The database entitled ?Bridge Incident Response Database? (BIRD) is web-based and searchable with ?keywords? and it is detailed in the final report (SPR # 0092-04-15) that was published in January 2008. In January 2008, the WHRP approved this study, ?Bridge Integrated Analysis and Decision Support ? Phase II,? to enhance the database from the Phase I study (BIRD) and to develop a decision support system (DSS) that could aid WisDOT personnel in making appropriate decisions in cases of bridge emergencies. The DSS developed under this study, ?Bridge Emergency Expert System? (BEES), utilizes rules and procedures in the form of a decision tree that is built based on information from visual inspection at the time of the incident and existing records to recommend appropriate initial actions at the site of the incident. BEES interacts with the user through a ?user interface? and makes recommendations on following safety procedures appropriate with the level of damage present in the structure. It should be noted that the recommended actions from the expert system under this study are not based on performing structural analysis or rating of the bridge at the time of the incident. As such, these recommendations