Page 51 - Bridge and Highway Structure Rehabilitation and Repair

26 SECTION 1 ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

1.8.9 Continuing Education and Leadership Training of Engineers

1. The survival of bridge engineering as a flourishing profession requires:
• Continuous education consistent with industry needs
• Increased dissemination of technical information across networks
• Integration of existing and new information.
2. The training objectives are:

• Identification of good professional and undergraduate training strategies
• Identification of strategies for the establishment of a bridge-engineering knowledge

database
• Assessment of the current level of collaboration between academe and the rest of the
community,
• Identification of successful mentoring and succession planning strategies.

1.8.10 Preservation Techniques for Historical Bridges
Bridges that are landmarks serve as tourist attractions. Their pictures appear on postcards
that are purchased and mailed to other countries by visitors. Their maintenance is special and
has been possible through advancements in remote sensors, robots, coatings technology, and
high strength steel and concretes.
Rehabilitation requires a specialized approach known as a “preservation design.”

1.8.11 Improving the Security of Bridges
1. Recent natural disasters and the increasing threat of terrorism highlight the need for effective
monitoring and for rapid recovery of the use of our bridges and highway structures.
Once again modern technology is providing a sophisticated approach to security such as
the use of wide band Internet networks for all security systems, digital CCTV surveillance
systems, access control systems, and biometric devices.
2. To avoid high cost investments in installing security systems, it is important to analyze the risk
assessment. For important bridges carrying high ADT the design criteria needs to consider
structural response to applicable blast loads similar to subjecting the bridge to a high magnitude
(safe shutdown) earthquake. For continuous bridges sudden and progressive collapse can be

avoided by retrofits such that the resulting damage of a bomb blast can be isolated.
3. Deployment of the performance standards for security design of major bridges and develop-
ment of a performance-based specification and accompanying design manual is required.

1.8.12 Use of Aesthetics in Planning
Bridges serve as national landmarks. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Details are provided
in heading number 1.12 under “Preserving Aesthetics.”

1.8.13 Contributing To FHWA National Policy
1. Project decisions affecting technical, cultural, and cost issues are being made without receiv-
ing adequate input from bridge engineers. There is a need to expand the role of the bridge
engineer in transportation development and in social and policy development.
2. Enhanced contributions of bridge engineers to transportation policy decisions can result
in:
• More practical input to context-sensitive design approaches
• Enhanced utilization of transportation systems through nationwide uniformity in size and
weight restrictions
• A balanced view on environmental project requirements.