10th International Bridges and Structure Management
PREFACE:
the 10th International Bridge and Structure Management Conference was held on October 20–22, 2008, in Buffalo, New York.
Thisconference was conducted by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Bridge Management Committee (AHD35) and the Structures Maintenance Committee (AHD30) in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Thruway Authority, New York State Bridge Authority, Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, and University at Buffalo: The State University of New York.
The 9th conference was held in Orlando, Florida,in 2003. Presentations from the 9th Conference were published in Transportation Research E-Circular 049: 9th International Bridge Management Conference in April 2003.
The 10th conference included papers and presentations on future directions and challenges in structures management; design and implementation of bridge management systems; application of bridge management in transportation agencies; bridge preservation, maintenance, and deterioration rates; application of prioritization and optimization routines; structural performance,monitoring, and remaining life; bridge modeling and National Bridge Inventory translator; structure vulnerability and weigh-in-motion; bridge inspection; local, frequency, and thermal imaging; bridge decks and stay cable; and accelerated construction, fiber reinforced polymers, and corrosion evaluation.
The conference was developed to aid bridge practitioners, managers, and researchers in taking advantage of the characteristics of existing systems from around the world, and identifying new and anticipated enhancements. The papers were not subjected to the TRB peer review process.
it can be said today with certainty that a high-quality road infrastructure is a fundamental precondition for an industrial society, insofar as it creates prosperity and provides citizens with a commensurate quality of life. Social, political, ecological, and economic conditions and innovations all have an effect on the necessary continuing development, and a successful road infrastructure policy must adapt to these conditions.
Road infrastructure is not exclusively technical by nature; it also has social, political, and ecological dimensions. I As Europe grows economically and culturally closer together, the road infrastructure will come under even greater pressure.
It must be adapted to meet new demands, while at the same time funding for repairs and maintenance must be optimized. Failure to provide specific investment to fulfill this need would subsequently result in a considerable burden of costs on the economy and the prosperity of our society would be substantially impaired.
Conditions in Germany are changing as well, for example, as a result of European harmonization, demographic developments, and the emergence of new markets. Thus, in addition to preserving what we have, the flexible operation, reliable availability, and demand oriented adaptation of road networks will collectively constitute an important task in future
