In recent years, many efforts to improve efficiency by using information technologies for supporting the product lifecycle of civil engineering structures, such as bridges, tunnels, and dams, are reported. One of significant... [ view full abstract ]
In recent years, many efforts to improve efficiency by using information technologies for supporting the product lifecycle of civil engineering structures, such as bridges, tunnels, and dams, are reported. One of significant information technologies in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is an intelligent 3D model-based process for visualization, automatic fabrication/shop drawing, cost and material procurement, construction sequencing, conflict or collision detection, forensic analysis and facility management of buildings and infrastructure. The advantage of the 3D model is that model overview, materials, and spatial distribution of degradation can be understood easily. Another advantage is that it is easy to obtain analysis results using the FEM model. Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are the open and neutral data format for openBIM and are accepted as ISO 16739 standard. Recently, the application area of the IFC is extended to the field of infrastructure.
Bridge life cycle management aims to perform the management functionalities related to bridges from the conceptual stage to the end of their useful life, through the design, construction, operation, and maintenance stages. In Japan, social infrastructure such as bridges and tunnels was built at a stroke in the period of high economic growth, so all aging is becoming an issue. In recent years, many accidents due to broken old bridges and tunnels have been reported. For this reason, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan strives to conduct periodic inspections of roads. It is difficult to repair and remodel many bridges and tunnels at the same time from the viewpoint of cost and traffic, so it is necessary to effectively use inspection information and evaluation information. A history of inspecting, evaluating, and repairing the bridge should be recorded in integrated manner for a long time because of the long life cycle of bridges. It is also necessary to retrieve information from past inspection records written on papers.
To support the inspection, maintenance, and asset management processes and resolve the issues, the data model that has the information of design (Computer-Aided Design, CAD data) and measured data is very important. Moreover, these data should be archived for a long time (more than 50 years) because of the long life cycle of bridges In this research, we propose a bridge information model that extends the IFC international standard. This information model satisfies the information requirements of inspection, evaluation and maintenance processes. History data related to inspection, evaluation and repair of the bridge is recorded in the 3D bridge model. A web content providing system is also proposed in order to show the model in the outside field of maintenance. The data can be viewed under Level of Detail (LOD) control. The system has the function of viewing not only 3D shape model but also 3D model with photo texture. The system has also ability to retrieve information from past inspection records written on papers.
Civil (Construction) Information Modeling (CIM) , Asset management and maintenance management
