Decision Tool for Prioritizing Bridge Repair or Replacement

P.I.: Dr. Yazdani
Grad. Research Asst.: Amy Florius

The development of a Decision Tool for Prioritizing Bridge Repair or Replacement was an ongoing research project at the University of Texas at Arlington. The study developed rating scores for bridges through expansion of the Sufficiency Rating System (SRS), incorporating element-level inspection data to make objective and data-driven decisions for local bridge maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement. The existing sufficiency rating system (SRS) lacked some key details and needed to be improved by incorporating additional factors that could potentially result in a better and more efficient methodology. The scope of work of the bridge decision tool project included, but was not limited to the revision of the existing SRS via incorporating additional factors, conducting data analysis using the newly proposed factors and developing a robust algorithm to determine the priority rating scores. As part of the literature review for this project, the bridge prioritization and inspection methods of all 50 states were investigated and documented.

The decision tool includes seven factors namely, condition, cost, risk, age, ease of repair or replacement, geometry and public use. Appropriate weights for each newly proposed factor are being assigned using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. This new and improved tool could be reviewed and applied nationwide and will be beneficial to the Transportation Industry. The tool will be EXCEL based, and will allow efficient and convenient use of all relevant data for a target bridge, for field or office application. Excel Visual Basic for Application provides a user-friendly platform with clickable buttons for convenience.