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.