Showing papers in "Journal of Infrastructure Systems in 2017"
TL;DR: In order to minimize the costs, risks, and disruptions associated with structural inspections, robotic systems have increasingly been studied as an enhancement to current inspection practices as mentioned in this paper, and robotic systems can be used as an alternative to traditional inspection practices.
Abstract: In order to minimize the costs, risks, and disruptions associated with structural inspections, robotic systems have increasingly been studied as an enhancement to current inspection practic...
144 citations
TL;DR: Visual testing, as one of the oldest methods for nondestructive testing (NDT), plays a large role in the inspection of civil infrastructure as discussed by the authors, and more quantitative techniques have been developed.
Abstract: Visual testing, as one of the oldest methods for nondestructive testing (NDT), plays a large role in the inspection of civil infrastructure. As NDT has evolved, more quantitative techniques...
124 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a short-duration, high-intensity rainfall causes significant disruption to transport operations, and climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of these events, which is a concern.
Abstract: Short-duration, high-intensity rainfall causes significant disruption to transport operations, and climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of these events. Disru...
77 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a 21st century vision addressing the interrelated technological, social, and environmental dimensions of infrastructure systems, including planners, engineers, public works specialists, financiers, and sustainability scientists.
Abstract: Infrastructure plays a key role in 21st century sustainability challenges related to burgeoning populations, increasing material and energy demand, environmental change, and shifts in social values. Social and political controversy over infrastructure decision making will continue to intensify without robust interdisciplinary and intersectoral dialogue over national-scale and local-scale infrastructure trajectories. Alongside large investments in physical and social systems, the infrastructure community—including planners, engineers, public works specialists, financiers, and sustainability scientists—needs to articulate a 21st century vision addressing the interrelated technological, social, and environmental dimensions of infrastructure systems. Such a vision needs to address existing systems in the industrialized world and new systems in countries seeking to improve human welfare through infrastructure development. Infrastructure systems—discussed here as primarily those integrating the built environment (Jones et al. 2001; Pulselli et al. 2007), transportation (Greene and Wegener 1997), power generation and distribution (Jacobson and Delucchi 2009), food production and processing (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2011), manufacturing (Jovane et al. 2008), water delivery (Gleick 2003; Muller et al. 2015; Palmer et al. 2015), and waste treatment (Melosi 2008)—underpin the unprecedented material wealth of contemporary human society. These technological systems have developed alongside extensive social infrastructure including specialized knowledge and expertise housed in institutions, informal knowledge systems of operation and maintenance, and a broader system of governance and regulatory politics setting budgetary priorities, policy directions, and regulatory certainty. In combination with these policy processes, user behavior and demographic change influence the demand and maintenance costs for infrastructure services, both of which have an identified overall investment need of $3.6 trillion (ASCE 2013), $2 trillion of which is needed by 2027 (ASCE 2017). Because infrastructure relies on environmental inputs to function, channels and protects society from environmental forces, and impacts environmental systems, attitudes about technology and appropriate human–nature relationships set the goals for long-term infrastructure sustainability. They do so through both a social willingness to pay for infrastructure systems and a social consciousness of and desire for specific types of systems. Shifting environmental conditions, including climatic changes and dispersed atmospheric pollutants, are exacerbated by the externalities of present infrastructure systems and the technologies they support. The extent of these shifts is rarely apparent until systems become overwhelmed (Gross 2010; Perrow 1999). For example, in the case of Hurricane Sandy, siloed system management created unforeseen vulnerabilities propagating through critical infrastructure systems (Klinenberg 2013, Comes and Van de Walle 2014), serving as an example of cascading failure (Rinaldi et al. 2001), as well as affecting system restoration (Sharkey et al. 2015). At the same time, infrastructure systems and the technologies and behaviors they enable serve as sources of risks and costs to public and environmental health; 8 of 10 people now live in urban areas with excessive air pollution primarily due to transport, manufacturing, and energy generation (WHO 2016). How has contemporary infrastructure practice come to this point? The modern infrastructure ideal of large, networked systems such as power generation, information technology, and transport (Dueñas-Osorio et al. 2007; Haimes and Jiang 2001;
72 citations
TL;DR: In recent years, public-private partnership (PPPPPP) projects success has become an important issue for both practice and research because of the growing number of developing countries adopti...
Abstract: In recent years, public–private partnership (PPP) projects’ success has become an important issue for both practice and research because of the growing number of developing countries adopti...
68 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a lifecycle and stakeholder-oriented performance measurement framework (PMF) is conceptualized within the context of social infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs) for delivering much-needed infrastructure.
Abstract: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been extensively used to deliver an array of infrastructure projects in Australia; they have become an integral part of several state governments’ procurement strategies Over the last decade, however, several major PPP projects have incurred significant cost and schedule overruns, which have marred their use as a mechanism for delivering much-needed infrastructure The paucity of performance measurement frameworks has contributed to the difficulty of proactively managing the effective and efficient delivery of PPPs, particularly during operations and maintenance With this in mind, a lifecycle and stakeholder-oriented performance measurement framework (PMF) is conceptualized within the context of social infrastructure PPPs The opinions of 160 practitioners about the proposed measures and their core indicators were solicited using a questionnaire survey Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the significance of proposed measures and their relevant core indicators (CIs) for measuring the performance of PPP projects throughout their lifecycle The analysis reveals that the proposed PMF is a reliable and robust tool that can be used to assist with ensuring that social infrastructure PPPs can be delivered successfully throughout each phase of their lifecycle The developed PMF provides governments and private consortiums with a robust and practical tool to measure and control the performance of their future projects
51 citations
TL;DR: An outlook on the future of community resilience, particularly the need for metrics that apply across hazards, geographic areas, and factor...
Abstract: The growing risk of natural and artificial or manufactured hazards combined with a lack of community preparedness have revealed the necessity for comprehensive and effective metrics for evaluating and improving a community’s resilience, i.e., the ability of communities to prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters. In this paper, the authors review existing community resilience metrics and tools, classifying them into one of three main categories: community-level, sector-specific, or sociological. The paper provides short descriptions of each metric and comparisons across metrics within the three main categories and across classes. The authors assess the strengths and limitations of these metrics, discuss challenges in improving community resilience, and provide recommendations for the development of new measures of resilience. The paper concludes with an outlook on the future of community resilience, particularly the need for metrics that apply across hazards, geographic areas, and factor...
50 citations
TL;DR: In this article, predictions of the risk to built infrastructure posed by climate and land-use change have suggested that bridge collapses may increase due to more frequent or intense flooding. Assessments...
Abstract: Predictions of the risk to built infrastructure posed by climate and land-use change have suggested that bridge collapses may increase due to more frequent or intense flooding. Assessments ...
49 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the peculiar nature of bridge infrastructure condition data persistently poses challenges in predicting bridge component deterioration that necessitate the continued investigation of probabilistic analysis of bridge component degradation.
Abstract: The peculiar nature of bridge infrastructure condition data persistently poses challenges in predicting bridge component deterioration that necessitate the continued investigation of probab...
48 citations
TL;DR: A special collection of coutributions to the International Symposium NDT-CE 2015 in Berlin/ Germany is presented in this paper. But this collection is limited to a limited number of items.
Abstract: Preface to Special Collection of coutributions to the International Symposium NDT-CE 2015 in Berlin/ Germany.
47 citations
TL;DR: The authors present a Bayesian network (BN)-based approach for modeling and reliability assessment of infrastructure systems and show that the BN is a powerful framework that is able to account for unce...
Abstract: The authors present a Bayesian network (BN)-based approach for modeling and reliability assessment of infrastructure systems. The BN is a powerful framework that is able to account for unce...
TL;DR: This paper addresses two areas of inquiry: critical infrastructure resilience as recovery and infrastructure interdependencies and dependencies, and both of these areas are evaluated.
Abstract: This paper addresses two areas of inquiry: (1) critical infrastructure resilience as recovery and (2) infrastructure interdependencies and dependencies, and both of these areas are evaluate...
TL;DR: In this article, an approach for developing optimal risk-based management strategies for bridges in coastal regions is proposed, where the authors propose an approach to develop optimal riskbased management strategy for bridges.
Abstract: This paper proposes an approach for developing optimal risk-based management strategies for bridges in coastal regions. Currently, bridge management strategies in these regions are designed...
University of Massachusetts Boston1, University of New Hampshire2, Texas Tech University3, University of Maine4, Blackburn College5, Iowa State University6, Boston University7, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration8, Worcester Polytechnic Institute9, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth10, University of Southern Maine11, University of Maryland, College Park12, University of Rhode Island13
TL;DR: The vulnerability of transportation infrastructure to climate change and extreme weather is well documented and the transportation community has identified numerous strategies to mitigate the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather and climate change as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The vulnerability of our nation’s transportation infrastructure to climate change and extreme weather is now well documented and the transportation community has identified numerous strateg...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used impact echo (IE) to detect and characterize delamination, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to describe the corrosive environment, measurement of the concrete cover and description of its overall condition, half-cell potential (HCP) to assess corrosion activity, ultrasonic surface waves (USW), and electrical resistivity (ER) to estimate corrosion rate.
Abstract: Monitoring the condition of concrete bridge decks is essential because bridge decks are deteriorating faster than other bridge components. This study concentrated on bridge deck condition assessment using complementary nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. The assessment had three main components: evaluation of the corrosive environment and corrosion processes, concrete degradation evaluation, and assessment with respect to deck delamination. Five NDE techniques were used: impact echo (IE) to detect and characterize delamination, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to describe the corrosive environment, measurement of the concrete cover and description of its overall condition, half-cell potential (HCP) to assess corrosion activity, ultrasonic surface waves (USW) to describe concrete quality, and electrical resistivity (ER) to estimate corrosion rate. The ability of NDE methods to objectively characterize deterioration progression is illustrated by the results from four NDE surveys of a bridge in...
TL;DR: The leading source of weather-related deaths in the United States is heat, and future projections show that the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat events will increase in the Southwestern United States as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The leading source of weather-related deaths in the United States is heat, and future projections show that the frequency, duration, and intensity of heat events will increase in the Southw...
TL;DR: Knowledge about the strength gain of reinforced concrete structures facilitates speedy and accurate decision making in formwork removal and transfer of prestressing forces for prestressed c... as mentioned in this paper, and this knowledge can facilitate decision-making in form-work removal.
Abstract: Knowledge about the strength gain of reinforced concrete structures facilitates speedy and accurate decision making in formwork removal and transfer of prestressing forces for prestressed c...
TL;DR: In this paper, current engineering practice must be updated to incorporate a range of future climate conditions that are different from those that are considered in this paper, to improve the resiliency of designs for long-lived infrastructure.
Abstract: To improve the resiliency of designs, particularly for long-lived infrastructure, current engineering practice must be updated to incorporate a range of future climate conditions that are l...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identified longitudinal road roughness limit values based on measured vibration induced in a road-vehicle-driver interaction system and the relations between measured vehicle vibration response and the international roughness index (IRI) were summarized.
Abstract: This study identified longitudinal road roughness limit values based on measured vibration induced in a road-vehicle-driver interaction system. The relations between measured vehicle vibration response and the international roughness index (IRI) were summarized. Frequency-weighted acceleration on the seat and dynamic load coefficient (DLC) were used to quantify ride comfort, ride safety, and the dynamic load of the vehicle and road. Linear relationship coefficients were identified or taken from references. The expected large range of vibration response root mean square (RMS) values was observed for the same level of IRI. IRI limit values were derived for chosen threshold values of vehicle vibration response as a function of vehicle velocity. Velocity-related IRI limit curves were proposed based on the fitting of IRI limit values lower envelope. IRI limit curves were compared with threshold proposals of other authors and width thresholds used in road maintenance. Some of the estimated IRI limit cur...
TL;DR: Ultrasonic noncontact methods of testing civil engineering materials in air, where both transmission of waves into materials and reception of signals are contactless, are reviewed, with particular attention to enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio by using coded signals.
Abstract: Ultrasonic noncontact methods of testing civil engineering materials in air, where both transmission of waves into materials and reception of signals are contactless, are reviewed. A short history and technical details of noncontact methods related to generation, reception, and transmission of waves are presented. Particular attention is devoted to enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio by using coded signals. Next, examples of currently available solutions dedicated to (1) estimation of bulk properties of materials, (2) evaluation of state of concrete cover, (3) flaw detection, and (4) identification of structural parameters of porous materials are discussed. Applications of laser techniques, classical echo, direct through transmission, and different types of semicontact methods are topics that are not reviewed in this paper. Finally, the benefits and limitations as well as expected directions of further development of the noncontact techniques are indicated.
TL;DR: In this article, a graph model coupled with a maximum entropy likelihood estimator is proposed to map complex interactions and assess the statistics resulting from different initiating scenarios to assess indirect consequence in operational loss terms and to assess the merits of risk treatment options.
Abstract: Indirect consequences to shocks and stresses are mounting globally. Estimating and developing plans to treat these risks remains a challenge. The difficulty is determining ahead of time how the losses, and the potential resolutions, might propagate through the interactions of complex connected systems of systems when generally only high-level temporal statistics are available. In this paper, a novel graph model coupled with a maximum entropy likelihood estimator are proposed to map the complex interactions and to assess the statistics resulting from different initiating scenarios. The method involves defining initial conditions from all-hazards effects, followed by generation of event sequences from the high-level statistics, to estimate probabilities of different outcomes after a shock or stress. In this way, a general method is devised to assess indirect consequence in operational loss terms and to assess the merits of risk treatment options. Incorporating these indirect consequence calculations...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the impact of pavements on the management costs in highway networks and present a set of road maintenance actions to deal with this issue. But, operating pavements represents a challenging task involving complex decisions on the application of maintenance actions.
Abstract: Pavements heavily influence the management costs in highway networks. Operating pavements represents a challenging task involving complex decisions on the application of maintenance actions...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the resilience and serviceability of transportation networks by considering the post-event state and functionality of their bridges, and evaluate the evaluation of the functional...
Abstract: Disaster resilience and serviceability of transportation networks are highly influenced by the post-event state and functionality of their bridges. However, the evaluation of the functional...
TL;DR: In this article, the most critically vulnerable major roadways in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia were determined based on sea-level rise predictions combined with the mean higher high water and 99%...
Abstract: This study determines the most critically vulnerable major roadways in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Sea-level rise predictions are combined with the mean higher high water and 99% ...
TL;DR: A system is antifragile if its performance improves as the result of exposure to stressors, shocks, or disruptions as discussed by the authors, which is typical of complex systems and is not usually exhibited in human systems.
Abstract: A system is antifragile if its performance improves as the result of exposure to stressors, shocks, or disruptions. This behavior is typical of complex systems and is not usually exhibited ...
TL;DR: This work states that a quick and inexpensive methodology to preliminarily analyze traffic networks is beneficial to better direct more detailed transportation analyses and can fulfill this requirement.
Abstract: Social network analysis (SNA) is a well-established methodology for investigating networks through the use of mathematical formulations abstracted from graph theory. It has been successfully used in social sciences to evaluate how individuals and institutions are affected by societal or professional networks, and it has been applied to some civil and construction engineering applications where a network’s main actors are people or organizations controlled by people. Current transportation analysis tools are expensive and time consuming, and require rigorous data for reliable results. Accordingly, a quick and inexpensive methodology to preliminarily analyze traffic networks is beneficial to better direct more detailed transportation analyses. Because of its ability to grasp the full complexity and connectivity of networks in a timely and cost effective manner, SNA can fulfill this requirement. Mathematically speaking, social networks are very close to transportation networks because they share fund...
TL;DR: In this article, the impacts of climate change on infrastructure is studied in the context of reducing future socioeconomic losses, and the authors introduce models based on emp..., which are used to reduce future socioeconomic loss due to climate change.
Abstract: An understanding of the impacts of climate change on infrastructure is important in the context of reducing future socioeconomic losses. Previous research has introduced models based on emp...
TL;DR: This paper presents a procedure to select explanatory variables, without the influence of human bias, for deterioration model development using publicly available data for bridges in Wyomin, Belgium.
Abstract: This paper presents a procedure to select explanatory variables, without the influence of human bias, for deterioration model development using publicly available data for bridges in Wyomin...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the progress of interdependencies modeling and integration efforts to promote the resilience and protection of infrastructure assets from an all-hazards perspective, in order to promote infrastructure resilience and protect infrastructure assets.
Abstract: To promote the resilience and protection of infrastructure assets from an all-hazards perspective, this paper describes the progress of interdependencies modeling and integration efforts to...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use evacuation zones to estimate the demand of evacuees, which is helpful in assessing the resilience of transportation systems in the presence of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods.
Abstract: Predetermined evacuation zones can be used to estimate the demand of evacuees, which is helpful in assessing the resilience of transportation systems in the presence of natural disasters. E...