Bridge Cracks Monitoring: Detection, Measurement, and Comparison using Augmented Reality

This research project develops a new informed method of accurate and reliable data collection of bridge decay by inspectors, which uses Augmented Reality tools. The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) observes that a crucial way of preventing bridge decay is to perform frequent, thorough, and objective inspections of infrastructure. The inspections must be performed methodically so as to ensure that inspectors receive appropriate data, are able to compare the results of their checks over time, and to detect changes in the bridge condition. In consequence, such an approach will lead to informed prioritization of bridge management plans. NMDOT expressed the need for a project that will provide a research solution, in a principled way, to enable bridge inspectors to (1) collect objective data in the field faster; (2) save bridge data that can be compared across time or across inspectors; and (3) make it possible to share the data from past inspections with other inspectors, so that they can better understand changes occurring in the field, which may be taken as evidence of infrastructure decay. This research project investigates potential ways of implementing updated camera technologies and AR tools to fulfill the needs expressed by NMDOT. Specifically, it proposes to use a new 3D camera from Microsoft, in addition to other cameras, to explore the potential of a real-time crack sensing. Moreover, it will apply augmented reality headsets such as HoloLens from Microsoft, which can strongly enhance the amount of information that must be received by inspectors during crack detection. The research project will be led by the PI from Civil Engineering who has significant experience in structural health monitoring (SHM) and infrastructure maintenance, design and management, and in partnership with representatives of other industries. The research team will gladly receive the inspectors’ response, being open to criticism and suggestions of improvement. In this way, the bridge inspectors from New Mexico will become co-creator of the proposed system, by providing valuable feedback to the research team. It is anticipated that the project will include a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and practitioners, with a collaboration and considerable input received from graduate and undergraduate students from the University of New Mexico. In this way the project will allow the students for a strong exposure of to the different fields than the ones that come from their university, but which also pays attention to their individual research interests. Every week during the duration of this program, the graduate and undergraduate students will gather to discuss and report their progress in the project, as well as exchange their findings and address the challenges they encounter with the other members of the group. Finally, the entire team of researchers will meet quarterly to report the progress of the research and developments during mini workshops. The participation of a wide variety of transportation experts will ensure significant outreach in this project. This research project will also be presented during Engineering Open House activities, high school meetings, and other community events

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 20STUNM33

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $ 120000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Mousa, Momen

• Performing Organizations:

  University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87131-0001
• Principal Investigators:

  Moreu, Fernando

• Start Date: 20200801
• Expected Completion Date: 20220201
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Cameras; Cracking; Data collection; Field studies; Inspection; Inspection equipment; Structural health monitoring
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01757539
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 11 2020 9:09AM