(bright music)
(machine humming)
- [Narrator] Properly diagnosing
and repairing infrastructure damage is a major expense
to the state of Texas.
Having the right forensic information is one key
to keeping those costs down.
Using Electrical Resistivity Imaging, or ERI,
is one new, extremely effective method
of providing the Texas Department of Transportation
with the data they need
to avoid unnecessary maintenance expenditures.
A research team at the University of Texas
at Arlington recently completed an implementation project
that assessed the effectiveness of this diagnostic method.
In multiple real world scenarios,
the project has demonstrated the efficacy of ERI
in diagnosing subsurface issues,
resulting in an updated manual as well as training
for how to use this technology and forensic assessment.
- In the initial project,
we conducted extensive literature reviews
and laboratory electrical resistivity tests
to develop a comprehensive research manual
for the electrical resistivity imaging
and identified the potential benefits
of the ERI in enhancing geotechnical analysis
for transportation systems.
- Electrical resistivity imaging is basically
introducing electrical current into the earth
and based on the resistance that we measure
from what's underneath, we characterize that material,
whether we have a moisture or we have a strata,
like a rock or anything that's problematic
like sulfate presence.
- Think about it, our infrastructure systems,
we build them on the ground
and the only information that we have about it
is about a few boreholes that we put in the ground
before the construction.
What we did is we provided more information
to the Department to eliminate the uncertainties
and eliminate those unnecessary costs.
Subsequent to the successful development
of an Electrical Resistivity Imaging Manual
for subsurface exploration,
we implemented that in the implementation phase.
We implemented that for 13 real TxDOT projects in Dallas
and Forth Worth district.
In Dallas district, what we did is for one
of the pavement design projects along a roadway,
we mapped the high sulfate concentration areas
that they create problems for pavements,
and we showed it to TxDOT,
so that they can design better the pavements.
In Fort Worth district, they had a retaining wall,
that they had problems with the retaining wall,
and we did, we used the technology in order
to identify the source of that problem,
to help the engineers in TxDOT in order
to address the issues they had with the retaining wall.
So we implemented the technology in 13 projects,
and we helped the TxDOT,
and we showed that how the technology can be used in order
to help them in the design
and maintenance of infrastructure systems.
- So the benefits for TxDOT is being able
to use a very simple solution that does not require us
to close a roadway to do a major operation,
and that can be implemented by a trained maintenance
or inspector to be able
to basically have a quick understanding
of what's underneath the surface of the ground.
- It could improve the highway safety
because it mitigates
and it prevents the unexpected failures on the pavements.
- [Narrator] For more information
and to find the publication for this project,
please visit the TxDOT research library
at the link shown below.