(suspenseful music)
- [Narrator] With the largest inventory of bridges
in the nation, making sure they are properly maintained
and rehabilitated when needed is a time consuming
and expensive endeavor.
But thanks to researchers from the University of Texas
at San Antonio, a new and innovative system
has been developed that utilizes highly sensitive cameras
and specialized software.
- [Biniam] The primary objective of this research
is to develop a digital image correlation system
to extract bridge deformation data.
When we say bridge deformation data
primarily is strength and deflection
for assessment of bridge load rating.
- DIC technology is a technology that uses digital images
and finds objects in those digital images automatically.
We take pictures from two cameras and those two cameras
we find the same target on a bridge using those cameras.
And then from there we locate them
in three dimensional space
and that gives us bridge deformations.
If we know that the deformations we can back calculate
the forces in the structure
and figure out how much capacity it can take.
- Part of the objective was to figure out long term
monitoring of bridges upon some sort of damage
or crack progression.
So traditionally we relied on consultants
to do those load testing for us.
Now that we have this system, future load testings
for the most part, I see them being done in house.
- Before the system, TxDOT would have to go in
and attach instruments on bridges and it's not an easy thing
especially if the bridge is over a creek or over a road
you have to put scaffolding, get up there
attach these instruments to measure deformations,
it can take several days.
But now with the DIC system we can do it in the morning
in half a day you could get up there
and set up the cameras.
- [Biniam] This digital image correlation system
is a useful additional tool in the toolbox for us.
And the researchers have provided all the
necessary tools to TxDOT personnel
you know, you don't have to go through processing a contract
or court authorization
if you have the instrument at hand, you can go out
and make some measurements yourself and quickly
you can determine whether or not your bridge
have the capacity that you want it to have.
So it makes the process much easier
for us now that we have this instrument at hand.
- The next steps is looking at other applications.
So this was calibrated and set up for a bridge test
but you can use it to do many other things.
You can look at long term movement of certain bridges,
rapid detection of damage after let's say
a hurricane or floods.
You can go in with the cameras
and very quickly assess where things stand.
- For more information, and to find the publications
for this project, please visit the TxDOT Research Library
at the link shown below.