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.