2019 Bridge & Tunnel Inspectors' Conference
 
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Call for Presentations Deadline Extended!
Submissions now accepted through December 1st

  • The 2019 conference theme is: Modern Solutions for Managing an Aging Infrastructure. 
  • We highly recommend case study/lessons learned presentations. 
  • We are looking for a presentation from each supporting state and/or local agencies. 
  • Presentations will be 30 minutes long (including 5-10 minutes for Q&A).
  • Scholarships may be available based on presentation selection.
  • NEW in 2019! This year the conference will offer break-out sessions. Do you have a presentation on a specialized topic? We want to hear from you! Submit your presentation today to be considered.

 


Questions or Comments? Please Contact:
WSU Conference Management
509-335-3530

 

Goals for the Bridge & Tunnel Inspectors' Conference

  • Provide a forum for bridge and tunnel inspectors to share information, innovations, ideas, and best practices.
  • Provide a means for sharing inspection methods, equipment, and management techniques for transportation structures.
  • Provide a forum for the continuing education of certified bridge and tunnel inspection team leaders.
  • Provide a forum for participants to gain a current federal perspective on the implementation requirements of the NBIS, NTIS, and the associated specifications and training opportunities.

Key benefits of attending or presenting at the conference

  • Become better equipped and prepared to perform assigned tasks by being exposed to lessons learned from others.
  • Become more efficient and knowledgeable in the area of bridge and tunnel inspection.
  • Develop a network of peers, external resources, and experience based in other states and throughout the industry.
  • Become more productive by identifying and using available resources more wisely.
  • Ensure a higher level of on-the-job safety and environmental awareness.
  • Strengthen communication skills by developing and delivering presentations to a large audience of your peers.
Topics of Interest

Bridge Inspection Procedures/Manuals/Guidelines
  • New FHWA Coding Guide – Coding Guide Changes Update
  • Updates to AASHTO Bridge Manual on Bridge Inspection
  • Agency crafted pocket field coding guide
  • Fracture critical inspection procedures
  • Procedures/Timelines for Critical Activities (Tracking Progress)
  • NCHRP 14-29: Assessing, coding, and marking of highway structures in emergency situations
  • MUTCD Bridge posting signage
  • Management question - MOA with other states/agencies/locals for inspection


FHWA Policies & Programs/National Legislation/23 Metrics

  • Tunnel inspection training/requirements/implementing new standards
  • 23 FHWA Metrics – Plans of Corrective Action (PCAs) (Possible round table discussion)
  • Dealing with the FHWA Metrics (the good, the bad, and the ugly)
  • Things to improve performance in various metrics
  • State of the Bridge Program – National results from metrics assessments
  • Implementing MAP-21 Provisions
  • Upcoming highway legislation - What's next? Funding?
  • FHWA policy and program initiatives underway
  • FHWA technology initiatives and NDE for substructure and superstructure
  • NBE - Discussion on elements (or state-specific elements)


NBI Data

  • NBI Data Integrity – What states are doing to assure accuracy of the data
  • Changes to the NBI
  • Bridge inspection data entry electronics/field apps


Procedures/Manuals/Guides

  • Agency crafted pocket field bridge inspection coding guides
  • Agency crafted Bridge inspection manuals
  • Fracture critical inspection procedures
  • Procedures/timelines for critical activities (Tracking progress)
  • Presentations on QC/QA programs
  • Training update - LRFR, 2-week, virtual bridge, WBT, tunnel comprehensive, etc.                  


Inspections - General

    • Inspector Development
      • Inspector view
      • Supervisor view
    • State-developed inspector training (hydraulic, load rating, FC, UW, Refresher)
    • Unique inspection examples
    • Other bridge inspection programs (BLM, BIA, COE, NPS, etc.)
    • How to inspect hidden elements or hard to access elements (like covered bridges)
    • Safety topics - fall restraint systems, traffic, confined space, different access
    • What to look for in everyday inspections
    • Implementation of the New AASHTO bridge inspectors process
    • Inspection of moveable bridges
    • Access UBIT? Ropes? Drones?
    • Case studies/lessons learned on non-typical inspection issues
      • SR 2 lessons learned
      • CA I-10 lessons learned
      • FC bridge washing lessons learned
    • Other methods for inspection for structures with less accessibility
    • Risk based inspection (Frequency)
    • Making bridge inspection a higher priority with locals
    • Budgeting - Keeping bridge inspection a priority with dwindling agency budgets/funds
    • Centralized certification for bridge inspectors (state-specific)
    • NBIS PM delegation - Define the details, task, authorities of "project manager"?
    • What does it mean to be PM and how do you go about it? How to check if going right?
    • Assessing and reporting the condition of "stehlo" concrete protective coatings
    • Damage inspections, heat straightening, corer plate repairs, repairs general
    • Inspection friendly details in design


    Bridge Incidents and/or Failures

    • I‐5 Skagit River Bridge – 5 years later
    • Emergency Events – Case studies and process during an event
    • Continued study of risk-based inspection frequencies, especially for fc bridges
    • Incorporating inspection information into load rating and analysis for repair
    • More exposure to national issues found in bridge inspections
    • Case studies on failure mechanisms
    • Forensic Engineering
    • Process to go through in an ER Event
    • Mississippi bridge closures
    • Preparing for the "Big One" (Earthquake procedures)
    • Emergency relief management (ER response, ER management, ER coordination with other states)
    • Failure of rapid construction methods

     

    Load Rating/Posting

    • SHV Load Rating Challenges
    • How to post for SHVs? Posting/Lack of enforcement issues
    • More load testing more NDE
    • Posting/lack of enforcement issues
    • Load rating policies in different states
    • Gussett plate load rating results

               

    Underwater
    • Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Technologies
    • Example of underwater inspection procedures


    Tunnels

    • Tunnel inspection requirements/practices
    • Tunnel scanning tour presentation
    • Alaska Way Viaduct Tunnel Project - Bertha tunneling and opening of tunnel
    • Tunnel inventory and coding guide
    • National Tunnel Inspection Standards (NTIS) Program


    Scour

    • Discussion of Plan of Actions (POAs) implementation and event documentation
    • Other states similar scour monitoring programs or devices
    • Scour Critical POAs for state/county/local agencies/federal agencies
    • Improvements in scour analysis and coding
    • FHWA Plans of Corrective Actions
    • Scour unknown foundations - POAs


    Complex Bridges (Movable, segmental, suspension, cable stayed, floating, etc.)

      • Complex bridge inspection case studies

                     

      Fracture Critical

      • Fracture critical inspection case studies
      • CRC Trunnion inspection/fracture mechanics evaluation
      • Sherman‐Minton Bridge lessons learned (KY)
      • Snohomish River Bridge trunnion evaluation
      • Corrosion along pre-stressing strands in adjacent pre-stressed slab bridges.
      • Fatigue-prone detail inspection case studies
      • WA Bridge washing program to aid in FC bridge inspection
                     

        Emerging Technologies
        • BINS Training Sessions/NDE Technology
        • Mobile Inspection - Tablets
        • ROV Underwater Bridge Inspection
        • Drone Inspection Use
        • FHWA technology initiatives
        • New technology available for bridge inspection
        • ODOT research on environmental effects on FRP
        • Electronic reporting connected to DOT NBI database