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    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety and Compliance: Evaluating The Aries Pilot and Illegal Bypass Behavior in Oregon</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726122</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Illegal bypass of weigh stations and roadside inspection facilities poses a measurable safety and compliance risk within Oregon’s commercial motor vehicle (CMV) system. When vehicles evade inspection, potential violations such as overweight operations, equipment deficiencies, and hours-of-service noncompliance may go undetected, increasing crash exposure and infrastructure damage risk. Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD) currently lacks a standardized, integrated methodology to quantify illegal bypass behavior or link bypass events to inspection outcomes, crash involvement, and carrier safety history.
OBJECTIVES: This research will deliver to ODOT: (1) A standardized and replicable data integration framework linking ARIES pilot data with CCD inspection, violation, crash, and carrier safety records. (2) Measurable and trackable performance indicators to support ongoing internal monitoring of illegal bypass activity and automated enforcement effectiveness. (3) Quantitative analysis of the magnitude, characteristics, and safety implications of illegal bypass behavior in Oregon. (4) Evaluation of ARIES pilot impacts on compliance rates, inspection targeting efficiency, enforcement productivity, and CMV safety outcomes. (5) Implementation guidance and best-practice recommendations to inform strategic investment decisions, future site deployments, and FMCSA Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD) funding applications.
This research will strengthen ODOT’s ability to detect and deter illegal bypass behavior, directly advancing Oregon’s transportation safety goals. By integrating ARIES data with inspection and crash records, CCD will be able to target high-risk vehicles more effectively, reduce unnecessary inspections of compliant carriers, and improve enforcement productivity. The project supports ODOT priorities related to Safety, Innovative Technologies, Process Improvement, and Stewardship of Public Resources by providing measurable evidence to guide enforcement modernization.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:24:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2726122</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Early Warning for Oregon's Aging Post Tensioned Bridges: Proactive Detection, Longer Life, Lower Risk</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725349</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research tackles the urgent need to safely manage Oregon's aging post-tensioned (PT) concrete bridges, which rely on high-strength steel tendons but are prone to hidden corrosion from grout voids, water ingress, and outdated grouting methods. Rising risks of tendon failure, cracking, prestress loss, or collapse drive the development of a risk-based, scalable protocol. It includes a vulnerability screening score, a centralized PT bridge database with corrosion-relevant attributes, structural modeling linking observable changes (camber, strains, natural frequencies) to internal damage, proven nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods (ultrasound, ground penetrating radar (GPR)), and practical inspection/monitoring guidelines demonstrated on a case study bridge. Integration into the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Bridge Inspection Program Manual supports proactive network-level screening, prioritized inspections, service life extension, and risk reduction—enhancing safety and reliability of Oregon transportation infrastructure.
OBJECTIVES 
The project equips ODOT with practical, risk-based tools to proactively manage PT bridge safety and serviceability. Main objectives are to: (1) create a vulnerability screening score that prioritizes bridges by corrosion risk factors (grout quality, duct material, exposure conditions); (2) build a centralized statewide PT bridge database for efficient network assessment; (3) develop a scalable protocol integrating visual inspections, NDE techniques (ultrasound, GPR), and damage-tolerance analysis to detect defects, predict remaining service life, and direct interventions; and (4) field-test the approach on a case study bridge and embed the resulting guidance in the ODOT Bridge Inspection Program Manual. These steps will extend bridge life, reduce hidden corrosion risks, optimize inspection efforts, lower unexpected failure potential, and enable cost-effective statewide maintenance.
This research equips ODOT with risk-based tools for safer, more efficient PT bridge management. Key benefits include early detection of tendon corrosion, extended service life through targeted inspections, improved efficiency via network screening and prioritization, major cost savings by avoiding emergencies and premature replacements, consistent statewide protocols in ODOT manuals, and reduced risks to workers and the public. Overall, it supports safer, more resilient, and cost-effective stewardship of Oregon’s transportation infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:13:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2725349</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Automated QA/QC and Guidance for Inspecting Robotically-Welded Steel Structures
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719306</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) process for inspecting welded steel structures using infrared thermography (IRT), automate the front-end (i.e., data collection) and back-end (i.e., data analysis and decision-making) of the QA/QC process, and create publicly accessible resources and guidance on implementing IRT-based assessment.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:25:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719306</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Low-Cost AI-Based System for Temporary Traffic Control Review</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717331</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Work-zone fatalities in the United States increased by about 50% between 2013 and 2022, with a surge of 33% in 2021 alone. To protect workers and guide drivers safely through modified traffic patterns, temporary traffic controls (TTCs) are used that must be regularly inspected for proper functioning. However, the current inspection process is manual and resource intensive, typically involving a three-person team: one person to drive, another to photograph, and a third to document observations. This staffing requirement limits the frequency and the geographic coverage of safety reviews. 

For NCHRP 20-30/IDEA 264, the research team will develop an open-source artificial intelligence (AI)-powered TTC inspection software that leverages Vision Language Models and requires just one inspector with a dashcam and an internet-connected computer. The inspector will drive through the work zone, upload dashcam footage for processing, and review AI-detected issues on an interactive video. The system will transform TTC reviews in several significant ways: (1) Convert a three-person operation into a streamlined, single-operator system, enabling more frequent inspections across wider geographic areas without additional labor cost. (2) Apply assessment criteria uniformly and objectively across all work zones. This offers the potential to deliver more consistent and accurate evaluations regardless of inspector fatigue, regional staffing differences, and complex work zones. (3)       Harness the growing availability of crowdsourced dashcam footage from commercial fleets and autonomous vehicles. This integration transforms work-zone monitoring by ensuring remote, widespread, continuous geographical coverage, including during challenging conditions such as nighttime and adverse weather.

The team will focus on high-priority deficiencies the Texas Department of Transportation identified that carry the highest penalties and represent significant safety hazards in work zones. A structured database of historical review reports will be created for use for training, validation, and prototype testing. Working with Texas Department of Transportation, an evaluation metric will be established and refined. This will be followed by a system engineering task in which core components or modules of the proposed system will be developed and tested individually and in end-to-end testing using a dataset. The system’s report generation component will synthesize component outputs into standardized inspection documentation, incorporating observations, images, regulatory citations, and location data for each identified deficiency. Finally, the AI-based system will be tested and validated across at least three active work zones in Texas that have ongoing, traditional TTC inspections.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:44:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717331</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Rewrite and Modernize the Manual for Bridge Evaluation for Compliance with the Revised National Bridge Inspection Standards</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712177</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Manual for Bridge Evaluation (MBE) is the primary manual for load rating of bridges and also includes important information regarding inspection and asset management. Bridge owners rely on the manual to remain compliant with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS), but also to maintain safety of the traveling public without unnecessarily restricting commerce by overconservative load ratings. The MBE has been revised multiple times to attempt to keep up with research, but due to the size and complexity of the manual, these updates have been limited to individual sections of the manual, leading to inconsistencies. Addressing these inconsistencies will help bridge owners maintain the safety of their bridges without unnecessarily restricting commerce. The MBE needs to be comprehensively updated to incorporate changes in federal legislation and regulations, including (1) element-level bridge inspection on the National Highway System, (2) bridge management system as part of Transportation Asset Management Plan, (3) NBIS, and (4) the Specification for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI).

Additionally, the MBE updates have not kept pace with innovations, research, and best practices, such as nondestructive evaluation techniques, underwater imaging, uncrewed inspection systems, bridge asset management systems, oversize/overweight permitting, posting, nonredundant steel tension members, and risk-based inspection intervals. Past updates lacked a holistic approach, which led to inconsistencies throughout the MBE. Some MBE topics may benefit from consolidating existing documents into the MBE, relocating existing MBE topics to other AASHTO documents, or creating independent manuals to streamline the user experience. NCHRP Project 20-123(21) is developing a plan to systematically update the AASHTO MBE. This project would implement the findings of that roadmap.

The objective of this research is to implement the Roadmap for the Rewrite of the Manual for Bridge Evaluation based on the recommendations from NCHRP Project 20-123(21). ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:57:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712177</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Establishment of Personnel Certification and Quality Control and Quality Assurance Processes for Nondestructive Testing of Concrete and Steel Bridge Elements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712174</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The certification of personnel performing nondestructive testing (NDT) of steel and concrete bridges in field inspections is fragmented between certification bodies and is inconsistent from one owner to the next. However, the knowledge, training, and experience of technicians performing NDT is paramount in obtaining consistent and accurate data on the condition of the structure so that key asset management decisions can be made. Studies have shown that even technicians certified and practicing in other sectors, such as nuclear or oil and gas, underperform when placed on a bridge field inspection project. While some literature exists on the effects of this resulting gap in knowledge and experience, no process exists for personnel certification of engineers or technicians performing NDT for bridges. Additionally, there is no framework for quality controls or quality assurance (QA) processes that could be used or specified by owners to establish a minimum standard of care for NDT protocols.

Comparative studies quantifying how different certification schemes affect field measurement repeatability are limited, and there is little published evidence on cost-benefit tradeoffs for implementing bridge-specific certification and QA programs at state or national scales. Overall, the literature highlights the need for a national or regulatory framework that adapts ISO 9712 and SNT-TC-1A principles to bridge environments—incorporating field performance testing, bridge-specific competencies, continuing education, and systematic QA oversight—to ensure uniform NDT practices across transportation agencies.

The objective of this research is to study industry certification and qualification practices for bridge inspection and evaluation, assessing their effectiveness through a national and international literature review and a survey of bridge owners worldwide. The study will also examine certification protocols used in other industries, such as energy, aviation, and manufacturing, that employ NDT in construction, in-service inspections, and maintenance. The findings will inform the development of guidelines for a consistent, reliable certification program for NDT technicians.

The project should establish minimum personnel certification requirements and QA processes for transportation agencies to ensure uniform results across technicians applying NDT to concrete and steel bridge members. Recommendations will cover common NDT methods, including ground penetrating radar, ultrasonic and advanced ultrasonic testing, impact echo, infrared imaging, laser crack detection, and automated sounding. A framework will also be developed to help owners implement certification and QA for other NDT methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:57:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712174</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Structural Safety Evaluation from Computational Modeling of Unknown Bridges Using LiDAR Point Cloud and Nondestructive Testing Data
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703878</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to convert LiDAR point cloud data into a finite element model of an unknown bridge by integrating steel bars identified from nondestructive testing into structural geometries based on LiDAR point cloud and validating the computational model against a reference model created manually using structural drawings. The aim of this study will be achieved by executing four tasks: (1) Data collection from a bridge using drone-based LiDAR flights and nondestructive testing, such as ground penetrating radar for detection and identification of steel reinforcement grids hidden in concrete members. (2) 	Data processing through registration, noise removal, and down-sampling. (3) Automated finite element model generation by integrating hidden features into structural components with outlining geometry of point cloud and discretizing them. (4) Condition assessment by running the computational model with estimated material properties under overloaded trucks and/or earthquake loads.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 17:09:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703878</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Phase II Pilot Program for UAS-Enabled Component Level Bridge Inspection in New Mexico</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703713</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Building on the success of Phase I, Phase II of the project seeks to expand unmanned aircraft system (UAS) inspection capabilities to focus on bridge superstructures. This is a more complex and critical component of overall structural performance, because superstructures, comprising elements such as girders, beams, and trusses, are responsible for transferring deck loads to substructures and ultimately to the ground. Their integrity is essential for bridge safety and serviceability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 13:14:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703713</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ViewBridgeInEnvironments: A Holistic, Context-Aware Approach to Bridge
Assessment Using Computer Vision Segmentation Technologies</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696156</link>
      <description><![CDATA[ViewBridgeInEnvironments introduces a pioneering framework that integrates environmental factors and contexts into bridge assessment, leveraging advanced panoptic segmentation technologies, while also incorporating the latest computer vision (CV) methods beyond segmentation. Traditional bridge inspections focus primarily on structural integrity, often overlooking the surrounding natural and manmade environments that can influence deterioration, accessibility, and safety. This framework addresses that gap by capturing comprehensive visual data from both bridge structures and their environments, enabling a holistic understanding of bridge health and the interactions between structural elements and surrounding conditions. By incorporating CV-based models, the framework produces interpretable outputs such as binary masks and quantified features, which support actionable decision making in bridge monitoring, maintenance, and management. The approach allows for simultaneous assessment of structural and environmental conditions, providing insight into potential vulnerabilities caused by adjacent terrain, vegetation, hydrological factors, and nearby infrastructure. Through these analyses, transportation agencies can identify risks, prioritize interventions, and allocate resources more effectively to enhance bridge safety and functionality. ViewBridgeInEnvironments is designed to leverage low-cost, widely accessible data collection technologies, including imagery from cell phones, cameras, and affordable drones, making it practical for both state-managed and locally owned bridges. The framework is scalable and adaptable, capable of being applied across diverse geographic regions and bridge types, including those in rural or hard-to access areas where traditional inspection is challenging. While erosion is one example of a feature that can be monitored, the framework is not limited to this, and the project will identify additional key features for comprehensive bridge assessment. By integrating structural evaluation with environmental context, ViewBridgeInEnvironments enables bridge owners and agencies to make timely, informed decisions, supporting resilient, safe, and sustainable infrastructure. The project represents a significant advancement in applying computer vision and panoptic segmentation to civil infrastructure, combining precision, environmental awareness, and practical deployment to enhance bridge monitoring and management.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:52:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696156</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hyperspectral Imaging for Corrosion Detection in Bridge Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696155</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The proposed research will investigate the use of hyperspectral imaging for
identifying corrosion of reinforced concrete and steel bridge components.
Research outputs will comprise (1) data characterizing the efficacy of hyperspectral
imaging for identification of corrosion prior to corrosion products being visible to
the human eye, (2) data characterizing the link between corrosion products that
are visible via hyperspectral imaging and the extent of steel mass loss for
reinforced concrete and steel bridge components, and (3) recommendations for
using hyperspectral imaging as part of a comprehensive bridge inspection and
maintenance program.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:49:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696155</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Unmanned Aerial System Automation Using Artificial Intelligence Tools</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2676010</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will conduct an exploratory analysis of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to aid with the automation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) use case activities across transportation with a focus on potential applications for transportation system benefits. This is an area of great potential for innovation through the use of advanced technologies in a synergistic manner. The project will focus on representative use cases where AI can enable advanced data processing and decision-making, such as: infrastructure inspection (e.g., rail track condition monitoring, construction progress tracking); operations and safety (e.g., traffic monitoring for incidents and special events); and UAS operating conditions monitoring (e.g., wildlife detection, vegetation health assessment). 

These use cases represent areas where AI-driven computer vision, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection can significantly improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Additionally, the project will explore how AI-enabled UAS operations can contribute to energy benefits and cost savings by optimizing inspection schedules, reducing fuel-intensive manual operations, and supporting compliance with regulatory standards.  

In the context of the above-described use cases, the research team will conduct the following activities: (1) identify commercial AI-enabled tools currently available for purchase or license and assess their capabilities for UAS data integration; (2) evaluate how these tools can be modified or expanded to meet the specific needs of  transportation related monitoring applications; and (3) develop prototype      workflows demonstrating AI-enabled automation for UAS operations.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:49:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2676010</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vertical and Overhead Concrete Patches</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671984</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridge elements undergo various types of damage throughout their service life requiring rehabilitation with vertical and overhead patch repairs. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) guidance is limited to horizontal concrete surface repairs. Vertical and overhead patches typically include using different strategies, patch materials and repair reinforcements such as mechanical anchors, wire reinforcement, or fiber-reinforced polymer wraps. The field engineers mostly rely on manufacturer's repair recommendations and engineer discretion for guidance. The development of complete guidance protocols including patch-repair materials installation specifications, inspection requirements, and acceptance criteria is required to provide consistency and ensure the durability of concrete patches. The development of the protocols, specifications and an approved products list would be beneficial to ensure WisDOT delivers longer-lasting repairs. The researcher will investigate and provide material selection guidance, patch-repair materials installation specifications and repair strategies for concrete surface repairs in the vertical and overhead positions using different strategies, patch materials and repair reinforcements. This project will provide complete guidance protocols for minor to intermediate vertical and overhead concrete patch repairs in concrete bridge decks, slabs, prestressed concrete girders, piers and abutments located above and away from traffic. They will subject patch repairs to stress tests to evaluate patch durability. The researcher will develop patch-repair materials installation specifications, inspection requirements, and acceptance criteria. The researcher will develop repair specification recommendations and an approved products list, providing consistency and ensuring the durability of concrete patches.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:21:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671984</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Efficient system reliability assessment of shoreline seawalls: Applications to SEAHIVE (UM)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663225</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Seawalls play a critical role in protecting coastal transportation systems from erosion, flooding and storm surges. Yet their performance is deteriorating due to changes in structural capacity and increasing external demands, posing growing threats to coastal safety. Evaluating the reliability and risk of seawalls along the shoreline is essential for informed maintenance and repair decisions. However, the large scale of shoreline seawalls and the complex coastal and geotechnical conditions in Miami present significant challenges for system reliability analysis. This is a collaborative research project conducted in partnership with Texas State University. The objective of this research project is to develop an efficient and practical framework that integrates interdisciplinary expertise in geotechnical asset management, seawall design and construction, and reliability analysis to perform system reliability analysis of shoreline seawalls.
The proposed project builds on two lines of prior works. First, an effective and well-defined inspection rating system was developed to evaluate the conditions of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls at Texas State University. Second, SEAHIVE®, a novel seawall composed of concrete perforated hexagonal prisms, was developed at the University of Miami and has been implemented in the Miami area for its ability to dissipate wave energy and protect habitats. Leveraging these advances, the proposed project will establish a unified framework for reliability assessment of shoreline seawalls.
The project consists of two phases: component-level and system-level reliability analysis. At the component level, the research team will develop an efficient and effective method to evaluate the reliability analysis of individual SEAHIVE® components. First, using available analytical models and experimental data, the team will define limit states that specify the conditions under which SEAHIVE® components perform adequately or fail. Second, the inspection rating method originally developed for MSE walls will be recalibrated for SEAHIVE® in the Miami area, following procedures established in prior work. Finally, these calibrated ratings will then serve as inputs to the defined limit states, enabling the calculation of reliability indices. The expected outcome of this phase is a practical guideline for engineers to quickly rate the seawall and determine the component reliability index.
Since seawalls function as interconnected systems rather than isolated units, the next phase is system-level analysis. Specifically, the team will elicit statistical correlations in seawall deterioration and soil conditions across different locations using inspection, measurement, and simulation data. An efficient system reliability analysis will then incorporate these correlations into component-level reliability analysis to compute the overall reliability index of seawalls along the shoreline. Together, the two phases will yield a practical decision support tool to efficiently inspect the shoreline seawalls and estimate the system reliability index in support of risk management and maintenance prioritization for seawalls.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:03:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663225</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Airport Runway Safety through Drone-Based Inspection Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652212</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) aims to improve the safety and efficiency of airport runway inspections using drone technology. Currently, runway inspections are carried out through manual and vehicle-based methods, which are time-intensive, costly, and may not provide the level of detail necessary for identifying all potential safety issues. Additionally, these methods can disrupt runway operations and pose risks to inspection personnel.
Integrating high-accuracy drones equipped with imaging technology and deep learning algorithms provides a solution. By leveraging AI models for automated defect detection and classification, this approach enables KDOT to quickly identify potential hazards, quantify runway conditions, and develop a standardized health index, such as the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), for long-term maintenance planning.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:04:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652212</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Augmented Reality-Assisted Quality Control for Structural Component Placement in Bridge Construction </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646964</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Construction quality control is an important part of building reliable infrastructure. This process starts with proper fabrication and depends heavily on how well the components are installed in the field. Construction requirements include surveying, documentation, inspection, and other means to control the quality of component placement during bridge construction. Making sure everything is placed and assembled correctly is key for the performance of the intended structural design over time. For instance, in bridge construction, even when components are fabricated within tolerance, improper placement during assembly can lead to alignment errors that compound over time, potentially affecting structural integrity, safety, and durability. This challenge has been observed in ongoing collaborations with New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and Castillo Precast, where the transition from fabrication to field placement may introduce uncertainties that current quality control workflows lack to quantify. There are two main challenges: (1) planning properly given the tight schedules and different teams between the fabrication and installation on time and space, making it difficult to coordinate with all parties (precaster, inspector at the precast plant, truck driver, crane operator, field contractor, consultant at the site, owner); (2) recording, accessing and sharing the construction sequence over the life of the bridge when needed, for example 10-20 years later. 

To address these challenges, this project proposes a digital inspection and verification system that combines 3D scanning and Augmented Reality visualization to support quality control for structural component placement in bridge construction. The goal is to compare the as-built configuration of structural components with the design intent in real time, helping engineers detect deviations early and minimize the risk of cumulative construction errors. By engaging directly with active construction sites in New Mexico, the research takes into account practical challenges such as limited working space, variable lighting, irregular ground surfaces, weather exposure, and the fast-paced nature of construction schedules, all of which can affect the usability and reliability of digital tools in the field. Through this system, field personnel can visualize discrepancies between what was designed and what was built, directly overlaid on the structure without relying only on traditional tape measures, 2D plans, or surveying. The project also develops a QR code installed on each element that provides long-term access to critical data from fabrication and construction to be always at the bridge and accessible by scanning, supporting future inspections and maintenance activities by allowing users to retrieve component information directly on-site using Augmented Reality. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:16:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646964</guid>
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