CableView Cable Stay Robotic Inspection Service

Cable Stay Bridge Inspection. Robotic inspection of the skyway bridge cable stays.

For more information contact info@infrastructurepc.com or visit www.infrastructurepc.com.

Subsurface Condition Assessment By Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

The bridge deck is the main component of the bridge which directly comes in contact with traffic and constantly bear the load which can cause minor or major deteriorations in the subsurface. Therefore regular subsurface condition assessment is very important for increasing the functional life of the structure.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) inspection utilizes radio waves to accurately detect the unseen embedded structures in the concrete. GPR scanning can easily detect reinforced steel, cables, conduit, delamination, cracks, fractures, voids, and other structures embedded in concrete which makes it a safe inspection technique. It retains the structural integrity of the bridge deck.

Advantages of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

There are many advantages of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) such as

• It can scan up to a depth of 16 inches

• Collects data in real time and can send it to others simultaneously

• No emission of radiation since it utilizes harmless radio waves

• Provide accurate structure location and depth

• Displays data in 2D and 3D for better visualization and easy interpretation

• Data can be stored for later use

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) is utilizing this technology in the subsurface division for very long time and provided satisfactory results to our clients. We provide bridge deck condition assessment and analysis, bridge deck inspections and bridge testing using various combinations of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) air-coupled or ground-coupled antennas, and/or Infrared (IR) cameras.

Benefits of our Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) inspection services include

• 100% deck area coverage

• Multiple deck surveys can be completed in single day

• The electronic data can be stored in a database

• Corrosion in the subsurface and quantity of deterioration can be easily evaluated

• No lane closures are required

• Can work on old bridges whose records are lost or damaged

• Mapping of bridge deck rebar and quality control

Our GPR technicians have decade-long experience in GPR testing and our expert team can provide you accurate condition assessment report in short time. Our GPR inspection services ensure safety of the public and the inspection crew but don't compromise on the performance during the inspection. These features have made us a reliable name in bridge inspection services.

If you also want to become one of our satisfied clients or know more about our services, just visit our website www.infrastructurepc.com and our representative will get back to as early as possible.

Drone Inspection Enhancing Safety Of Bridges

Regular and thorough bridge inspection can prevent accidents and increase the service life of the structure being inspected. Bridge failures and tragedies from the past have made the government and public concerned about the conditions of existing and even newly built structures. As a result, many new technologies have been introduced to try to properly inspect these structures. There is one industry that has been around forever and just now being adapted to large structures. The nondestructive testing industry once limited to in house testing of materials is now the best method of enhancing the accuracy of inspection result, reduce the inspection time and increase the safety of the crew and public during bridge inspection.

Drone inspections are one of the newly introduced technologies which has reduced the cost and time of inspection significantly. To understand this, let's take an example. Suppose a bridge inspection costs around $10,000 and requires a full crew to perform a complete inspection in 4-5 days. With a drone, the similar kind of inspection can be done at more than 50% less time and with a significant cost savings. In addition the safety of the inspection crew and the public is at a much lower risk of loss of life. Sounds amazing, isn't it!

What kind of data does a drone collects?

During a drone inspection, both visual and thermal imagery data is collected for real-time assessment as well as for later use. An automated statistical process is used to convert the imagery data into a 3D ‘point cloud' which is easy to understand. A skilled bridge inspector can easily interpret the data and identify the locations of deteriorations on the bridge. Since the drone-collected data is geo-referenced with real geographic coordinates, therefore, a map can be easily created for the inspection crew to inspect the drone located deterioration areas closely.  

How is it different from conventional bridge inspection methods?

During traditional bridge inspection, crew members have to climb ladders, perform scaffolding, undertake rope access procedures and/ or place a snooper or bucket truck on the bridge to reach the areas and  components required to be inspected. These practices carry risks and take a huge amount of time. The bridge also needs to close down partially or completely to carry the inspection.  More frequent than not accidents occur with heavy equipment on the bridge.  With the introduction of drones, overall bridge inspection can be done in a fraction of the time taken by any inspection personnel. The inspection can be done in minutes instead of hours and the benefit of monitoring deterioration progression over time is invaluable. 

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) is providing inspection services for decades and is a trusted name in bridge and road inspection. We utilize advanced nondestructive testing methods and robotics like Drones for quick surveying and drone inspection of complex structures. We have a range of patented inspection system for customized inspection of important bridge elements.  In many cases we have moved past drones and have created robotics to perfect many of the bridge component inspections. Go to www.infrastructurepc.com to find out more or email info@infrastructurepc.com.

Contact us or write an email to us to get a free estimate for your infrastructure inspection. You can log on to our site www.infrastructurepc.com to know more about our services and products. You can provide your details at our site and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Challenges Faced During Complex Bridge Inspection

Bridges are among the largest complex infrastructure structures that are used for transportation. This makes them critical and a valuable asset for a modern economy to remain viable. Complex bridges are typically highly trafficked and are used on a daily basis by the public. This makes their proper maintenance and inspection of paramount importance. Out of all the bridges complex bridges possess the greatest challenges. The more complicated a structure, the more complicated the inspections and in the case of complex bridge inspections, conducting proper inspections in regular cycles is important to maintain the structure in good health and insure the safety of the traveling public. 

How does Complex Bridge Inspection help?

The work on huge infrastructures like Bridges does not end with its construction. Bridges are unlike other infrastructure components, they are constantly exposed to adversities like changing weather, temperatures and dynamic loading. This makes them prone to damages, corrosions and frequent mishaps. Therefore, complex bridge Inspections become crucial to counteract defects like corrosion, spalling and cracks. For these inspections, advanced technologies such as drones, infrared thermography, multifunctional crawlers and other nondestructive testing technologies are starting to come into regular use. The generated results help identify the location of defects and extend the service life of these critical infrastructure assets.

What are some of the major challenges faced during Bridge Inspection?

Bridge inspection is a difficult yet important part of bridge maintenance. The bridge once constructed has to be inspected on regular  intervals by law in the USA, but there are many obstacles that stand in the way of a thorough inspection. Some of the major challenges are:

 It cannot be taken out of service easily.

 The traffic has to be maintained throughout the inspection process.

 The process has to be mostly done during the night as the traffic is lighter but lack of proper light makes it dangerous and difficult.

 It has to be done in sequence lane by lane.

 The procedures are unique for every bridge as different infrastructures face different types of environmental damages on different scales.

 Most of the existing bridges were constructed many yearsago so getting accurate construction drawings and as builts of the bridge can be difficult.

 The inspectors, engineers, and workmen cannot rely completely on guidelines and plans.

 The old bridges have different materials and components compared to newer ones.

 There is always the issue of the safety of the engineers and inspectors as well as to the public with the older inspection methods and in placing heavy equipment on a bridge at night.

What are the methods used to overcome problems during Bridge Inspection?

The inspection procedures have changed and become more advanced over the years. The advanced technologies, if used can make the work easier, faster and much more accurate. Modern techniques can also make bridge inspections safer for both the public and the engineers that conduct the inspections.

Some of the advanced methods utilized during inspections are:-

 Eddy Current

 Magnetic Flux Leakage

 Robotic Inspections

 The infrared method

 Visual inspection

 Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) 

 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

It will be up to the department of transportation to mandate that the asset managers, consulting firms and engineering firms tasked with conducting bridge inspections today use the most modern technology available. Engineering firms like the status quo. They have been conducting inspections the same way for 50 years and are milking the tax payers and department of transportation without providing the quantitative data needed today for the complex bridge owners to make the best decisions within their maintenance budgets. The use of modern technologies and robotics can change all of that.  It will be up to the individual heads of the DOT in each state to spearhead that effort. 

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) provides the latest in modern technology and robotics for Complex bridge inspections. IPCs technology lowers the cost of the inspections and provides more quantitative data that allows the asset owners to properly budget for repairs.  These methods help extend the service life of our infrastructure, keep the public safe and save billions in infrastructure costs.

To know more about our services, you can log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or email info@infrastructurepc.com. 

You can also get a free estimate of our services by providing your details. Our customer support will contact you as soon as possible. 

Robot-assisted Bridge Inspection

With the development of science and technology robotics have become a part of several challenging professions. Robots are now assisting in many difficult and risky jobs like bridge inspections. They provide information more efficiently at a lower cost and typically with a much more detailed deliverable.  In past, bridge failures and accidents have claimed many lives and unfortunately we wait until those tragedies occur before adopting new protocols to prevent them from happening again. Through the advancements in technology, new technologies and techniques have been developed to assist the bridge inspection process using robotic assisted bridge inspections to keep our infrastructure and public safe In addition to the safety of the inspection crews these new technologies typically require fewer lane closures and night time inspections and can be conducted at a lower cost than older manual methods.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC), a trusted name in road and bridge inspection services has implemented these technologies in its services which has benefited their clients a lot in terms of effectiveness, safety, cost savings and more accurate results.

What advantages do you get with Robotic Inspection methods?

* Fewer lane closures and inconvenience to the public.

* It can easily perform many dangerous tasks.

* It completes the job in fraction of time taken by bridge inspector.

* It finishes the inspection job with perfection and provide much more accurate results.

* Use of robotics in the bridge inspection process enables the department of transportation to make better asset allocation decisions.

* The inspection results are less subjective,more accurate and less costly.

* The minor cracks and faults in the bridges which used to get unnoticed in traditional inspection methods are more easily detected with robotic Inspection.

* It costs less than conventional inspection methods.

What are the new technologies used in Robotic Bridge Inspection?

1. Drones:

Also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Drones are used in the bridge Inspection for getting an aerial view of a bridge to detect cracks or faults. It makes bridge inspection safer for the Inspectors and also the general public. It provides a more accurate report of inspection in form of an easy to understand visual assessment of the bridge. An experienced bridge inspector can easily identify the problem areas and generate an accurate condition assessment report for the bridge owners in short time.

2. Multifunctional robotic crawler:

This technology is developed for inspection of stay cables and Suspension bridges. The robot is customized to move over stay cables to inspect any deterioration by using high definition cameras and infrared technology. The robot is designed to work under any environmental conditions and it provides real time data along with coordinates of the deterioration which helps in repairing and monitoring purposes. It has simple and quick installation procedure and also many redundancies in case of emergency situations.

3. Infrared Thermography (IRT):

It is a robotic inspection method for evaluating bridge to detect cracks and faults in concrete. It works on a vehicle-based system which uses an advanced and high-resolution thermographic camera and computer-based video data acquisition system to improve detection rates and accuracy in the location and size of the defected areas.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) provides the best service in robotic bridge inspection. We provide service at an affordable cost without compromising on the performance. We assure you with the best technologies and experienced certified bridge inspectors and experienced bridge engineers.

To know more about our robotic systems and other services, you can log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com or email us at info@infrastructurepc.com

Post Tensioned Tendon inspections

Bridges are valuable transportation assets utilized on daily basis. This makes the maintenance of the bridge more essential and significant. Since they are exposed to weather and temperature changes, they become prone to damages like corrosion, cracks etc. A neglected defect on an infrastructure like a bridge may turn out to be dangerous if not identified and repaired on time.

The construction of the bridge is done with utmost care by setting guidelines for materials and construction procedures by professional engineers and craftment. Long lasting material like concrete and steel are used in bridge construction worldwide. To prevent concrete from cracking and collapsing under a load Post-Tension tendons areused to reinforce the concrete.  With the use of post tensioning bridges can be built with less concrete and better withstand the test of time. The advantages of PT concrete have enabled us to build magnificent structures like hi rise buildings and massive bridges. These tendons just like all infrastructure assets need to be properly inspected and maintained to insure the structures safety.

Why are Post Tension tendon inspections important?

To keep the tendons free from damages like corrosion, they are placed in ducts made of plastic or galvanized steel. After the installation of the components and tensioning of the tendons, the ducts are filled with cement grout. However, because of the grout, the ducts are not completely sealed. This makes the ducts prone to crack and corrosion which allows the moisture and air to reach the steel tendons and cause corrosion. Metal loss through this process may make the whole infrastructure weak if not repaired on time. Therefore, the post-tension tendon inspection is of utmost necessity to locate such damages and fix them before any mishap.

What happens during the Post tension tendon inspection?

Till now post tension tendon inspections consisted of a visual inspection with an inspector walking under the bridge with a flashlight looking at the tendon.  In some cases a process called sounding is used. This is where the inspector hits the tendon with a hammer and listens for changes in the sound. Both of these inspection types are subjective and will vary from inspector to inspector. A company in Florida Infrastructure Preservation Corporation “IPC” is changing all of that. A robotic engineering and bridge inspection company, IPC has developed a robotic magnetic flux leakage device that can in effect peer through the concrete and outer wrapping to inspect the steel for section loss and corrosion. The tendon inspection guarantees quantitative data that allows the bridge owner, department of transportation to properly allocate their assets in order to conduct repairs according to importance. The condition assessment report will then be provided that allows repairs to be made to the right area extending the service life of the structure and keeping the public safe.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) offers this service within the department of transportation’s current maintenance budget. Whether you require baseline condition assessment, healthy tendon monitoring or locating corrosion, IPC can provide a complete quantitative post tension tendon inspection with detailed quantitative results unmatched in the industry today.

To know more about our services, you can log on to our website http://www.infrastructurepc.com/  or email us at info@infrastructurepc.com. You can also get a free estimate of our services by providing your details. IPC is a professional services bridge inspection and robotic engineering company providing nondestructive testing services at the same rates as current manual inspections. Their goal is to have the industry do away with subjective inspections by using modern technology and techniques to provide real quantitative data to the department of transportation.

Introduction To Railroad Bridge Inspection

America rail network stretches over nearly 140,000 miles and has approximately 100,000 railroad bridges which allow trains to cross rivers, ravines, and gorges. Moreover, railroad overpasses help pedestrians and vehicle to move without any hassles. Without strong and physically sound bridges, it is impossible for the rail network to work therefore billions of dollars is invested in its maintenance.

Why are railroad bridge inspection important? 

Regular railroad bridge inspection contributes more to railroad safety than any other part of maintenance. According to federal regulation, the railroad must be inspected by trained inspectors once a year. There arevarious type of railroad bridge inspections which include:

• Routine inspection

• Verification inspection

• In-depth inspection

• Special inspection

• Underwater inspection

• Semi-final construction inspection

The recommended duration for different types of inspection varies on the basis of nature of the inspection. For example, routine inspection can be performed every year while a thorough inspection with tools and crew can be performed once every five years.

Objective of railroad bridge inspections

• To fulfill the requirements of bridge safety standards

• To establish and maintain the information necessary for fulfilling the requirements of railroad bridge management program (RBMP)

• To ensure discovery of any deterioration, defect or structural deficiency which could pose threat to travelers

• to provide a condition evaluation report for qualifying railroad structures in the bridge inventory

• To determine the extent of minor deterioration for initiating maintenance and repairing work

• To determine the extent of major deterioration so that the affected bridge candidate can be replaced or repaired

Challenges of railroad bridge inspection

Generally, railroad bridges are constructed over water bodies and other deep gaps to allow passage for the trains and detailed inspection of these bridges must be performed every 5 years. In the US, 20% of the railroad bridges are too high to inspect from the ground or constructed over water bodies which require lifts, barges or inspection crew member on hoists. These types of inspections pose huge risk to the life of the inspection personnel.

In traditional railroad bridge inspection, power lifts or ladders are being used to reach heights and crew members use hand or power operated tools. The result obtained by manual inspection is often time-consuming and not very accurate.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation understands the challenges of railroad bridge inspection and therefore offers advanced inspection technologies. We use robotics like unmanned aircraft system (UAS)which includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) also known as a drone, an aircraft without a human pilot.

Features of UAS

• It can capture images from any location even underneath the structure

• Inspection can be performed in less time

• Results are more accurate than traditional inspection

• Assures safety to the inspection crew

• Less expenditure on bridge inspection

• Inspection data are based on bridge safety standard

• 3D images for easy interpretation

• Clients can access the data online, give their reviews and response promptly

• Data can be used for future reference for monitoring purpose

Although IPC prefers other technologies above the bridge deck, the use of UAS below the bridge deck can provide a lot of information and do not interfere with traffic or distracting the public.

Contact Infrastructure Preservation Corporation to find out more about our railroad bridge inspection services and to get a free estimate. Our various inspection services provide you detailed, safe and cost-effective return on your investment. So log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com now and become one of IPC’s satisfied clients!

Bridge Inspection services

Bridge inspections are a necessary part of any kind of bridge maintenance program. It is mandatory in the US for every bridge owner to conduct a routine bridge inspection every two years and a detailed bridge inspection once every five years.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) is a leading name in transportation infrastructure inspections, including bridge inspection. During bridge inspections, IPC ensures the publicsand inspection crew's safety by utilizing advanced non destructive testing methods. We also use robotics to locate deteriorations in difficult to reach places.

IPC provides fast and accurate quantitative results to our clients for quick decision making. The results are digital, recorded and illustrated in many cases graphically for easy understanding and storage for later analysis. Our skilled bridge inspectors are well versed with all safety standards and efficiently handle the latest in modern technology and robotics  to interpret the collected data and deliver a concise condition assessment report to the asset owners within current maintenance budgets.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporations expert teams consists of certified professional engineers, technicians, inspectors and commercial divers and certified nondestructive testing experts who are experienced in highway bridge and structure inspections. Our bridge inspection service is in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and FHWA bridge inspection procedures and criteria. We also have the latest safety devices and our staff follows the OSHA safety requirements.

What are our Bridge Inspection services?

l  Routine and In-Depth Bridge Inspections

l  Bridge Inspection of Fatigue and Fracture Prone areas

l  Underwater Bridge Inspections

l  Emergency Bridge Inspection Response

l  Non-Destructive Materials Testing Utilizing Liquid Penetrant and Magnetic Particle Testing Methods

l  Structural Analysis and Load Ratings

l  Concrete Crack detection and crack deterioration over time.

l  Detailed Inspection Reports Including Structure Repair Recommendations and Cost Estimates

l  Detailed Section Loss Measurement Utilizing Ultrasonic Measuring Devices

l  Avoiding the need for special equipment like Cranes, Man lifts, Bucket Trucks and night time inspections by manufacturing their own robotic inspection devices.

l  Element Inventory and Assessment Coding

l  Electronic Field Note Capabilities

To know more about our services, you can log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.comor leave your contact details with us by filling out a contact form available on our site or emailing doug@infrastructurepc.comand we will get back to you in the shortest time possible.

Concrete Imaging And Mapping Through Ground Penetrating Radar (Gpr)

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-destructive testing method used to locate deteriorations and discontinuities of surface and subsurface of the concrete structures. It is sometimes confused with the concrete x-ray but it utilizes radio waves which are completely safe unlike gamma rays used in X-rays.

It can easily locate the position and size of metals and non-metals underneath the concrete and non-concrete surface. This technology provides real time data and in short reduces the  time and cost for concrete structure inspection. It is commonly used to locate utilities and some companies have created software and through R&D can no detect rebar, conduits and post tension tendon cables, determine concrete slab thickness and locate voids, water and concrete delamination.

Sometimes, clients complain that GPR survey detects conduits in the area which has been cleared by the coring and cutting methods as well as false positive. This is the result of improper GPR inspection or inexperienced GPR technician. Sometimes, GPR operators simply perform line scan (4"-6") and try to connect the dots instead of creating a high-resolution 3D grid in order to save time. Although this line scan may work in some cases (e.g. while locating rebar) but this practice is not acceptable as it can affect the result.  If for example a bridge deck inspection is required and the gpr company is not a bridge inspection company they typically have no idea how to translate their results into actionable items for the bridge asset manager. Only with extensive R&D and understanding all of the dielectric properties of the components of a bridge deck and very strong interpretation software can GPR results be beneficial to an asset manager.

Data collection by using 3D grid process may take a little long time but it can save the cost of post tensioned cables and damaging conduits. It also prevents risk of physical harm to the person performing coring or cutting the surface without knowing what lies underneath the surface.

Inspection through Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) prevents personal injury, expensive repairs, and structural damage. At Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC), our trained and experienced staffs provide quick and quality results by following all the defined standards of the bridge and road inspection. Our inspection technologies are latest and take ground penetrating radar inspections to a whole new level. With IPC risks can be minimized and accuracy of the result can be maximized providing the department of transportation with results that provide a true action plan so that they can better allocate assets to conduct repairs in order of importance.

If you are interested in our product and services or you want a free estimate of our services, you can visit our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or leave your contact details with us and our customer support will reach back out to you in the shortest time possible. Email:info@infrastructurepc.com

Robotics in bridge inspection

Robotics are increasingly advancing many of our most important industries. They are advancing the capabilities and mans ability to push technology forward. Moreover, it can play a very important role in fields where the risk of life is very high. Bridge inspection and transportation infrastructure is one such field which has great potential for robotics technology to increase safety and improve results.

As we can see, traditional bridge inspection has been a very time consuming and labor intensive process. It requires inspection of the entire structure and its members and is mandated to be inspected every 2 years in the US. The manual inspection causes inconvenience to the traffic as the lanes need to be closed down to avoid any kind of accident. The inspection result is also subjective and not precise as it can be by using todays technology. Many small and minor cracks and other deterioration go unnoticed using manual inspection and cannot compete with todays modern technology and robotics.

Robotics can easily handle all the above-mentioned issues. Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC), a trusted name in road and bridge inspection services has implemented this technology in its services and benefited its clients in terms of effectiveness, safety, and cost savings.

Our robotic technology provides accurate and precise quantitative condition assessment results in short time which saves time, money and labor. Since it is non-invasive and nondestructive the integrity of the bridge structure remains intact, unlike traditional bridge inspection where methods like coring and sampling further damage the structure and allow air and exposure to the elements to further deteriorate the structural components of the bridge.

The latest in robotic systems utilizes technologies like infrared, electromagnetic waves, radio waves etc. to collect data from the surface and subsurface of the structure. IPC’s robotics provide real time data and also stores it for analysis. These robotics are customized to perform the exclusive assessment of different members of the bridge like stay cables, post tensioned tendons, bridge deck and bridge approach ways, etc.. These members are currently inspected manually with lane closures and heavy equipment, but our robotics system performs inspection of these members very easily and collects data from every angle up to the entire length of the member which is impossible with the traditional bridge inspection methods.

To know more about our robotics system and other infrastructure inspection services, you can log on to our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or leave your contact details with us by filling up a contact form available on our site. You can also get a free estimate of our services by providing your details. Our customer support will contact you as soon as possible.

Role of post tensioning in construction of efficient infrastructures

With the advancement in science, our world is evolving and so does the infrastructure. The demand of smart infrastructure has increased in recent decades which demand an upgraded quality of concrete so that the structure can support any load beyond its own dead weight. Many structures have collapsed in past because

• The concrete structure couldn’t bear the oversized load e.g. I-5 Skagit River Bridge accident in 2013

• It was structurally too rigid to withstand the damaging factors like strong winds e.g. I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in 2007

• Frequent accidents where vehicles hit the supporting post like boat colliding with the foundation of the bridge e.g. 14th Street Bridge accident in 1982

• Design errors and material used in the construction e.g. Tacoma Narrows Bridge accident in 1940.

• Earthquakes causing damage to the structure e.g. San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge collapse in 1989

We have learned from these accidents that if the design and construction quality of any infrastructure is improved then accidents like bridge failures can be prevented. Post tensioning technique which uses prestressed post tensioned tendons to reinforce concrete structures has revolutionized the construction of infrastructures.  it offers many advantages over regular construction technique. Some of the features of post tensioning are following as

• It offers flexibility to the structure means if the structure tend to sag or deflect under the live load then also the concrete structure won’t crack.

• It has lowered down the material and maintenance cost

• It has also reduced the construction time because it allows longer spans in a structure without building supports.

• It increases the tensile strength and load bearing capacity of the structure thus making it durable and long lasting.

• It can also resist the environmental factors e.g. it can withstand stronger winds or earthquakes as it is structurally flexible.

How post tensioning improves the quality of concrete?

Post tension tendons made from high tensile steel, carbon fibre or aramid fibre is placed within or adjacent to concrete volume to provide flexibility to the concrete structure. When extra pressure is applied by the living load, the post tension tendons share the load and prevent cracking in the concrete member.

Once the concrete is stressed along with tendons, it becomes high strength concrete and can withstand tension forces. Post tension tendons and prestressed concrete is widely used in building huge structures like bridges, skyscrapers, dams, silos and tanks, nuclear containment structures and industrial pavement etc. Prestressed concrete with post tension tendons is much better option than the reinforced concrete because of its improved performance which allows reduced structural thickness and longer span which is essential for building complex structures.

What is the constraint while using post tension tendon in concrete structures?

The biggest advantage of post tensioning is lack of cracking and ability to span large spaces without any support. Post tension slabs can be placed or stamped just like reinforced concrete slab and the surface can be overlaid or stained. It is important to consider that the post tensioned concrete should not be cut or drilled because once a post tension tendon is cut down, it is difficult to repair or replace.

It is very difficult to find any damage to the post tension tendons from the surface as they are deeply embedded inside the concrete member. Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) provides the first post tension tendon scanning system which utilizes the Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) to perform a MRI like assessment of the post tension tendons. This system is referred as “TendonScan” and it can provide accurate information about any deterioration or section loss like corrosions, voids, bleeding grout and any other problem caused to the tendons so that the decision makers can take appropriate action for repairs, in budget and on time.

To know more about TendonScan, our other products and services, you can visit our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or contact us at info@infrastructurepc.com.

Drones (UAS) for Bridge Inspections A New Approach

Drones The approach to utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for bridge inspections in regards to incorporating same into the realm of structural bridge inspections is long overdue and is welcomed due to the system’s ability to access areas of bridge which would normally require the archaic and oft utilized approach of requiring the incorporation of travel lane closures, costly under-bridge access equipment, and the requirements of conducting bridge inspections at night as not to interrupt traffic flow.

State by state departments of transportation are researching the viability of drone inspections on our nations infrastructure.  Using a drone for Bridge inspection services add a valuable resource in the bridge inspectors toolbox.

Whereas, for safety reasons, a UAS (being a machine) will never be incorporated and utilized over live traffic, however, its ability to provide stand-off positioning adjacent and parallel to the bridge structure for deck inspections is unsurpassed.

A UAS can be used quickly and efficiently to conduct a full bridge structure inspection, which in turn, will identity areas which might require a more hands-on and thorough inspection of structural deficiencies revealed.   The cost savings enjoyed by the bridge owner who selects an inspection consultant which utilizes a UAS inspection approach and program, versus the under-bridge equipment method, is practically infinite. 

DETAILED REQUIREMENT FOR DRONE USE IN BRIDGE INSPECTIONS 

The UAS will be fitted with high resolution video cameras which will transmit real-time inspection views and inspection progress, infrared thermography (IR) cameras which reveal delamination locations and perimeters of same in concrete surfaces, and a laser-based measuring device which will denote the width of structural cracks discovered.  All the data will be transmitted, via telemetry; to the ground-based Command Center System which will in turn collect and archive all data received for submittal to, and reviewed by, the bridge owner, which will be used for future comparison and reference.

The above information and data will be incorporated into a final bridge inspection report to be submitted to the bridge owner.  At that time, a meeting between the bridge owner and the inspection will be conducted to discuss findings of the UAS inspection, what these findings mean in relation to the Health Index of the bridge, and then further discuss the need for work order-driven repair approaches and requirements.

This information shall be kept and secured by the UAS inspection consultant at all times, and if required and directed by the bridge owner upon their receipt of all bridge inspection related data, the UAS inspection consultant shall delete all files related to the bridge inspection.    

INCORPORATING UAS INTO BRIDGE INSPECTIONS

The incorporation of UASs into viable bridge inspection

procedures is a long overdue and very welcomed approach, since all of us who have been involved in onsite bridge inspection projects for many years know the inherent dangers required for us to perform our duties in regards to maintaining the trust of the traveling public that the nation’s bridges are safe.  Instead of human inspectors risking life, limb and injury to perform their duties in avenues of active traffic, rappelling structural bridge members, and accessing areas on a bridge by massive manlifts and/or under-bridge machines, we now have what was once considered insurmountable, to now having the option of machines performing these duties in our stead.  One can replace a UAS easily, but a human life is irreplaceable. 

In all likelihood, and until the UAS manufacturers can provide a fool-proof and nearly indestructible machine which will be guaranteed to be free of any and all malfunctions, a UAS will not replace the hands-on inspection requirements related to Fracture Critical members of a bridge nor will a UAS be able to access the tight connections within a through-truss bridge nor a deck-truss bridge, but many areas are now within easy reach by utilizing UASs safely. 

For more expert information on bridge inspections using drones contact info@infrastructurepc.com.

Introduction to Pole Scan (A high mast light pole inspection Service)

High Mast Light Poles are installed at our busiest intersections as well as on ramps and off ramps of most highway systems. . It is a tall pole at least 30 metres (98 feet) high and the lighting system consists of several lighting fixtures mounted around the luminaries ring at the top of it. The pole itself is built in sections with each section inserted into the other and ground at the base with anchor bolts that go 3-4 feet into the ground.  The HMLP “High mast light pole” needs to remain sturdy and withstand gale force winds for years without rusting apart or falling.

Maintenance inspections of the high mast light pole are conducted every 5 years and typically done by lowering the luminaries ring from the mast head to its base by using a motor and winch but inspection of the pole surface and seams is a difficult task. Traditional pole inspection involves a visual inspection of the pole from the ground by an inspector.

Infrastructure Preservation Conservation (IPC) has developed a unique High Mast Light Pole inspection service named Pole Scan® which helps the inspector in assessing the light pole and its various components like seams and luminaries for any imperfections from the comfort of his office.

What it is?

It is a robotic high mast light pole inspection system which is remote controlled from a monitoring station. This system offers 100 percent coverage of the entire light pole including the pole surface, seams, luminaries and other components. This advanced system exceeds all FHWA and state requirements for assessment. The inspections are conducted by experienced professionals who are trained to use the technology to provide the department of transportation with much more quantitative data than the traditional manual inspection

Why was it built?

High Mast light Pole inspection from conventional methods is subjective because an inspector examines the pole visually. If two inspectors examine the same pole at the same time then the two outcomes will be different. Moreover, other components of the HMLP like seams and surface are neglected and the potential defects or deteriorations are not properly monitored Some of the components or anomaly’s can be occurring 50-90 feet up or underground and not visible to the human eye. Pole Scan® was built to make subjecting testing a thing of the past and to inspect all the components of the HMLP from every angle providing quantitative data to the department of transportation in order for them to properly allocate their resources to maintain them and extend their service life.

How is it used?

Pole Scan® utilizes Non Destructive Testing methods and robotics technology. A self propelled robotic system is mounted on the pole and it is remotely controlled from the base station. It moves along the length of the pole and records all the details of the surface, seams and other components in form of a high definition video. The recorded data can be analyzed in real time for later analysis. The history is also used for monitoring of the advancement of the any deterioration.

What problem does it solve?

PoleScan® has improved the inspection service of high mast light pole and enhanced the quality of the results. The collected data is used for monitoring of rate of deterioration over time as well as reporting any imperfections in order to properly maintain them.

For more information about IPC and its road and bridge inspection services, you can visit our site https://www.infrastructurepc.com or email us at info@infrastructurepc.com.

What is a post tension tendon?

“Post tensioning is a technique for reinforcing concrete. Post-tensioning tendons, which are pre-stressing steel cables inside plastic ducts or sleeves, are positioned in the forms before the concrete is placed.” Post tension cables in effect allow us to safely build large concrete structures. They allow larger spans, thinner slabs and greater distances between support commons. Post tensioning is used in bridges and box girder structures worldwide including on our bridges, on and off ramps.  Post tensioning makes it possible to build structures that might not otherwise be possible. Because concrete is not flexible it can crack under loads.  Although rebar is used to reinforce the concrete to prevent cracks from growing the concrete can still sag under increased loads. PT or post tension cables are load bearing and can stand large increases in loads bearing up the concrete.

There are many benefits that are gained by using a post-tensioned approach.  It allows for flexibility of design, faster construction and lower material costs. Over the long term, it can reduce maintenance costs and allow for increased loads over time.

Bridges that utilize post tension tendons are able to contain long and clear spans, have few beams and slender members and thinner slabs can be used which is not possible in case of regular bridges. This method reinforces or strengthens the concrete or other material with high strength steel bar or strand which is known as “tendons”. It significantly reduces the building weight and foundation load which is very useful in seismic areas.

Post tension tendons help in construction of complex bridges which has specific geometry requirements such as complex curves and super elevation. Extremely long span bridges can be constructed with the help of post tension tendons. Such architectures functions effectively without disrupting the traffic moving under it and also reduces the impact on environment significantly.

Post tension tendons are made of prestressing strand, anchorage, ducts, and grout and corrosion protection materials. Since this technology is new therefore there are no inspection systems for tendon components. Recent cases of corrosion of post tension tendons in complex bridges have become a significant problem.

After getting information about tendon corrosion, department of transportation has inspected their post tension structure inventory to assess and quantify the rate of tendon corrosion and to estimate the remaining lifespan of the affected member.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) has developed a comprehensive post tension tendon inspection service named “TendonScan®” which utilizes non destructive testing and evaluation methods that can find corrosion and section loss within a PT tendon. 

What it is?

As we have mentioned above that it is a comprehensive tendon scanning system which works on non destructive testing principals to find out voids, water intrusion and bleeding grout in external tendons. This system also includes a device to detect section loss within the tendon.

Why was it developed?

During construction of complex bridges, tendons are filled in grout to prevent corrosion. But during grouting process, the grout tends to separate depending on grout’s quality, admixtures, pumping equipment and procedures. This separation result into low pH grout at tendon points and anchorage which made these locations susceptible to corrosion.

Complex bridge inspection is incomplete without tendon testing therefore we have developed this TendonScan system to resolve this problem.

How it is used?

It is a battery operated robotic system that uses the latest in non destructive testing and modern technology. This system couples itself with the tendon and travel along it to perform a MRI like inspection of the material inside it. The inspector stands on the mobile control unit which travels along with the sensor. The sensor works through wireless connectivity to transmit the collected data. The information is transferred to control station for real time assessment of the tendon condition. The image of internal section of tendon is then illustrated in 3D color graphics so that any discontinuity like water intrusion, void or bleeding grout can be identified and quantified easily.

What problem does it solve?

This tendon assessment system helps in locating corrosion, voids, bleeding grout, section loss and other problems inside and outside the tendon. Moreover, it also helps in monitoring the discontinuities over a period of time which helps in deciding that when to repair or replace a post tension tendon. 

To know more about our products and services, you can visit our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or contact us at info@infrastructurepc.com.

Introduction to BridgeScan

Infrastructure is the backbone of our nation’s economy. The ability to get to work on time, get goods to market and safely travel relies on the condition of our infrastructure. Our nation’s infrastructure averages over 50 year old and is ageing and deteriorating at a faster pace than they can be repaired. Although the infrastructure is required to be inspected at regular intervals the inspection methods have not kept up to allow the asset owners to properly maintain them. If infrastructure is maintained properly on regular intervals, then its service life span can be extended. Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) provides inspection services through non-destructive testing methods and robotic engineering. We have patented technologies for various specific needs related to inspection and monitoring issues of the different structures like bridges, roads, high mast light poles and more says Doug Thaler, Exec. Vice President.

Here we will discuss some features of our in-house technology BridgeScan®.

What it is?

It is a patented bridge deck inspection service which utilizes non-destructive testing methods to cater following needs

• Identify rebar pattern

• Locate crack and monitor its progression over time

• Fill density assessment

• Locate delamination, deboning and concrete deterioration

• Abutment water intrusion assessment

• Void detection under approach slab

• Prepare condition assessment report for the asset owner

• Identifies 12 levels of deterioration.

• Conducts bridge deck & approach slab deterioration assessment.

Why it was built?

Traditional method of chain dragging or visual inspection of bridge deck has many drawbacks and limitations like

• It provides subjective results

• Poses risk to public and crew’s life with lane closures and the parking of heavy equipment on the bridge.

• It is time, cost and labour intensive

• Unable to locate delamination from internal layers

BridgeScan® effectively takes care of these problems and has many advantages over traditional methods of bridge inspection

• Offers quantitative results

• Allows the asset owner or DOT to properly allocate assets

• Provides actionable items for repair

• Create 2D and 3D images for analysis

• Accurately create the rebar patterns

• Detect cracks, voids, delamination and deboning

• Reconstruct bridge beam configuration

How it is used?

Although it is a computerized robotic device it is operated by the same bridge inspectors that currently inspect our bridges. Data gathered during the inspection by the device can be analysed in real time without interfering with the integrity or functionality of the bridge’s surface and subsurface.

What problem does it solve?

It detects any kind of minor or major deterioration on super surface and subsurface and creates a detailed illustration in 2D and 3D. Moreover, it stores data for later analysis and works on any kind of bridges old and new. The bridge does not need to be closed and traffic can move easily during bridge inspections.  All bridge inspections conducted by IPC are conducted within the DOT’s (Department of Transportations) current maintenance budgets.

To know more IPC and their products and services, check out their website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or contact them at info@infrastructurepc.com.

Modern technology and robotics can save billions in infrastructure cost

The world has become a global village because countries are now interconnected, more people are travelling and business is expanding in multiple nations. All of these things are happening at an ever increasing pace and to stay competitive on the world stage today our infrastructure needs to keep up. Without a modern, safe infrastructure our ports will not be able to handle the new deep water cargo ship, goods will not be transported from factories to shipyards in a timely manner and people will be constantly late for work. Today more than ever, growth and development is not possible if the nations infrastructure lags behind.

In the 19th and 20th century, America focused mainly on expanding its transportation network by building roads, bridges and other concerned structures. But the inspection and maintenance of those structures have not kept pace. Many of those structures entered the end of their useful life years ago. Traffic loads are 10 times what they were when some of these structures were built. Because they now support more traffic, the loads place additional wear on them. In addition, due to antiquated inspection methods the corrosion and deterioration has outpaced repairs. Due to this deterioration we need to find alternatives to just replacing or re-building these structures.  There is just not enough money in the system to replace all of the bridges for example that are in a state of disrepair.

How modern technology and robotics can revive the infrastructures?

Use of technology and robotics is a proactive step in the maintenance of our infrastructure. For example, if you know that you are having symptoms of any disease in its initial stage then you can effectively treat the disease and regain your health. Similarly, if we know where deterioration, water intrusion and corrosion  is occurring in a structure we can make the minor repairs to them before they become a threat to the whole structure(Movable Bridge Inspections).

Modern technology plays a major role in inspecting the deterioration and other deformities developing in the structure. It accurately assesses the condition of a structure like bridge, road, dam, tunnel in a non destructive manner. In traditional might I say the current antiquated methods, inspections are performed on selected areas which is known as lot sampling and samples are collected through methods like coring and cutting which is a destructive method. Once you core or cut we are exposing these areas to air and moisture which further causes corrosion. 

The inspection and monitoring process of infrastructure needs to change. With todays modern technology and robotics we have the capability to make our inspection processes more accurate. Modern robotics integrated into the inspection process can not only provide more quantitative data but can prevent lane closures, increase the safety of both the inspectors and the public and more accurately assess the infrastructure they are inspecting.

Modern technology combined with robotics has many advantages over traditional methods of infrastructure inspection and maintenance. Some of the benefits are:

• No more lane closures or temporary closing of the bridge

• Eliminates the need for night time inspections

• Increased safety of public and inspection crew

• Quantitative results instead of subjective results

• Real time data analysis on site

• Data history of structure condition can be stored for later detailed analysis

• Accurate condition assessment of surface, super surface and sub surface layers

• Determine density of concrete cover and location of rebar without damaging the surface 

• Find out minor cracks, voids, water intrusions inside the surface and visualize it through 2D and 3D illustrations

• Reduce labour expenses and saves time

• Collect data from dangerous heights from every angle with the help of robotic equipments

• Thoroughly check each and every component of the structure and find out more minor and major problem areas as  compared to visual inspection

• Helps in recommending and prioritizing the repairing work

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation is determined to provide utmost safety to public and staff during bridge and road inspection and provide accurate condition assessment report to the Department of transportation and bridge owners. Therefore, we use customized and patented products for inspection and monitoring of the infrastructure that we are tasked with inspecting.  We use experienced certified bridge inspectors along with robotics to offer the asset managers a far better deliverable then they have ever received before. For example, we have CableScan® which utilizes robotic technology to gather detailed information of a cable stayed bridge in short time. Similarly, we have additional advance technologies developed in house like PoleScan®, TendonScan®, CrackScan® and others which reduce not only reduce the cost of bridge inspection or inspection of any other structure significantly, but provide the quantitative data the department of transportation needs to allocate assets.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation will provide a free estimate of our inspection services. If you want to find out more about our services go to https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ or email info@infrastructurepc.com.

Insights Of Bridge Preservation

Rise in number of vehicles with each passing year has affected the environment but it has also increased the load on nation’s bridges and roads. Extra load and other environmental factors like leaking joints or chloride penetration from salt water further damage these bridges and reduces their service life.

Much of the  infrastructure has been built in the United States at the beginning of twentieth century when cars were becoming more popular and transportation was becoming critical to an industrialized nation. But with passing decades, development of new infrastructures slowed down while the existing structures reached their mid and end of expected life. Fatal accidents like Silver Bridge collapse in 1967 in West Virginia and Mianus River Bridge collapse in 1983 in Connecticut have drawn the public and government attention towards the poor conditions of existing infrastructures like bridges, roads, tunnel, dams etc. and numerous inspection and bridge preservation programs came into action.

Bridge Preservation consists of Bridge inspection, through maintenance and timely repair which help in extending the service life of bridges. Bridge preservation is a systematic approach involving inspection and repairing of a bridge and its components with non destructive testing methods.

Bridge preservation program may include these following processes

• Deteriorated concrete repairs

• Bearing replacement

• Structural steel repairs

• Bridge superstructure Jacking

• Deck surface repairs

• Bridge joint replacements

• Pile repairs or replacements

• Concrete sealers or overlays 

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) offers products and services using non destructive testing methods to assess structural stability of any infrastructure by finding any deterioration, cracks, voids, water intrusion etc. in bridge super-structure and sub-structure and provide condition assessment report with recommendations for the repair.

IPC’s inspections integrate modern technology and robotics with experienced bridge inspectors to supply quantitative data unlike anything seen before. Says Doug Thaler, Partner in IPC. Our quantitative results obtained from our in house patented modern technologies are easy to understand with its 2D and 3D graphical illustrations. The results provide the asset owners or department of transportation to better allocate assets, Thaler continued. Bridges are inspected on an every two year cycle with deficient bridges being inspected every year. Without integrating modern technology into the inspection process, bridges will continue to fail.  With non destructive testing methods being utilized on an entire bridge deck or post tension tendon, problems can be identified early and repairs can be prioritized to keep our infrastructure and public safe.  “Our team of expert and experience engineers and staff provides accurate condition assessment report of the whole structure and also the detailed report of the components like cable stays or post tension tendons, even high mast light poles. We also offer mechanical and electrical inspection of the movable bridges/draw bridges. Our emergency service gives you detailed report of your bridge or road in shortest time period and without interrupting the ongoing traffic on the bridge.

IPC offers greater safety to the public and the inspection crews during the bridge inspection with our non destructive testing technologies. With their advanced technologies, IPC is able to look out for any deteriorations visible to the naked eyes and also damage beneath the surface which are generally not found during visual inspection. Our automated devices saves time and labour during inspection and our inspector is able to check all the data in real time with our computerized outputs which are stored for later analysis and also to check deterioration progression from future inspections.

For further information about our services and products, leave us a message with your contact details on our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Subscribe to our newsletter at our blog www.infrastructurepc.com/robotics to get the latest updates and visit our site to get all the information in detail(Ground PenetratingRadar).

Role Of Ground Penetrating Radar In Bridge Inspection

Bridge inspections are critical for proper maintenance of the bridge and to increase its service life. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is one of the most effective non destructive testing methods to assess the condition of the elements of bridge without damaging their serviceability.

Ground penetrating radar is a simple computerized device and made up of three main components: control unit, antenna and power supply. This equipment can be powered by variety of power supplies like small rechargeable batteries and vehicle batteries by using connectors and adapters according to the power source type.

Infrastructure Preservation Corporation, IPC has integrated GPR with additional technology and expertise to be able to collect reliable data which shows the deterioration, delamination and deboning of the bridge deck and other components. Although, traditional methods like visual inspection can collect inspection  data, it is subject to interpretation of the operator and provides no quantifiable data.

Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar By Itself

• It is used to determine thickness of the concrete cover

• To find out if reinforcement bars are intact or affected by environmental factors

• It is used to determine the position and depth of rebar

• To evaluate bridge deck thickness measurements in short time

• It is used to find embedment inside concrete structures prior to coring or cutting

• To collect quantifiable data about rebar and complactness of gravel

In combination with IPC’s BridgeScan® A patented process to inspect bridge decks and bridge approach ways the inspection results provide quantitative analysis of a bridge deck unlike anything seen before. This service was designed to replace the current subjective inspection and chain dragging, says Doug Thaler, Executive Vice President of IPC.

Ground Penetrating Radar is a safe and reliable method to collect data of concrete structures and can be illustrated in 2D images. It is able to evaluate surface and sub-surface layers with densities which are not obtainable by traditional lab methods like coring or by visual inspection.

How it works

Ground Penetrating Radar sends small signals into the material and records the time and strength of the returned signal. A series of signals transmitted over an area scan the material thoroughly. The energy pulses or signals pass through materials different electrical conduction or dielectric permittivity. The strength of the reflected signal is determined by the difference in dielectric constants and conductivities of the materials it has passed through. All the data is recorded in the memory of the device and can be evaluated in real time or can be stored for later analysis.  


Infrastructure Preservation Corporation (IPC) provides Ground Penetrating Radar services for road and bridge inspection and monitoring. Combined with the additional technology and processes, IPC developed BridgeScan®, a complete bridge deck and bridge approach way inspection.  Moreover, we have many patented advanced non destructive testing technologies that have been integrated into standard inspections to provide detailed information of different components of the bridge like CableScan to determine deteriorations in the suspension cables, CrackScan to determine cracks in the different structures. All of these inspections have been designed to be conducted within the DOTs current maintenance budgets.

Our aim is to increase safety of bridge inspections by using modern technologies and reduce cost and labour to save time and money for the bridge owners and transportation departments (department of transportation). We provide reliable, accurate and quantitative results in the condition assessment report so that the decision makers can prioritize the repairing and rebuilding process of the bridge components.

To know more about our product and services or to get a free estimate for your bridge inspection, you can visit our website https://www.infrastructurepc.com/ (Infrastructure Inspections) or send your queries by leaving us a message with your contact details and we will reach you as soon as possible.