(logo whooshing)
- [Narrator] The Texas Department of Transportation
is implementing new, more cost effective
and accurate technology that helps engineers
maintain and rehabilitate
the state's large network of bridges.
This award-winning digital image correlation system
developed by researchers
at the University of Texas at San Antonio
uses high resolution sensitive cameras
and specialized software to determine
the condition of bridges.
The implementation team,
trained TxDOT bridge inspection personnel
and conducted testing on 10 bridges across the state.
- The main objective of the implementation project
was to train different divisions in TxDOT
on using the digital image correlation system
that we provided to them as part of the research project.
Also, all the while, as we're training them,
we also wanted to collect some data on bridges
that are actually requiring intervention or load posting
that are showing that they cannot handle the big truckloads,
the modern truckloads.
- This is a useful additional tool in the toolbox for us,
especially when it comes to load testing of bridges.
If all we need is deflection,
we can do it in-house right now.
However, if we needed strain information,
we relied on consultant.
Now that we have this system,
we will be able to do it in-house.
Future load testings, for the most part,
I see them being done in-house.
- In terms of efficiency, we did three bridges in one day,
so that was our record.
So if you contrast that with traditional instruments
where we had to put scaffolding to get up to the bridge
and attach instruments and wire everything,
and it took several days to week at least to do a bridge.
We did actually three bridges in one day.
So that was, I think, one of the highlights
of the implementation project.
- The researchers had provided
all the necessary tools to TxDOT personnel.
You don't have to go through processing a contract,
work 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 wanted.
- We've seen in the past
and within the implementation project
that we can remove load postings by being
more accurate in the numbers,
and so that improves traffic flows and freight specifically
across the state of Texas.
So it's a very big benefit.
So trucks don't have to be rerouted around these bridges
so they can go over them.
Also, there's cost savings
because we don't have to retrofit them,
so that a lot of bridges we don't even have to touch.
We just by refining our calculations, we can say,
"Oh, well they can handle those trucks"
and so we don't have to touch them anymore.
So it is a big cost savings and much better
flow of traffic for Texas.
- [Narrator] For more information
and to find the publications for this project,
please visit the TxDOT Research Library
at the link shown below.