Integrated multimedia uniform bridge element identification system database for bridge inspection and maintenance

Bridge inspection information management poses a conundrum to transportation agencies across the nation. Today, there is a real need to use all media types, including text, image, sound, and video, to document bridge inspection projects, rather than only text. The development of an interactive, menu-driven, PC-based bridge inspection and maintenance database system using various information technologies to provide multimedia documentation is addressed. The system is geared to identify each bridge element uniquely using the Uniform Bridge Element Identification System (UBEIS). UBEIS is a generalized multidimensional coordinate system consisting of a string of alphanumeric characters that does not require any structural detail drawings, such as framing plan or cross sections, to identify a unique structural element. This database system enables bridge engineers to evaluate future rehabilitation needs, track the condition of structurally deficient members, and keep the rehabilitation and replacement history of the bridge. The system can be considered as a practical link between inspection and rehabilitation and acts as a warning system against bridge deterioration and potential failure.