NMBP-36-2020
Bridges can be particularly vulnerable elements of transport infrastructures. In particular, road bridges may be approaching end of life be subject to higher volumes of traffic than designed to support for. Sound procedures to ensure monitoring, quality control and preventive maintenance systems are therefore vital. Various procedures are in place at national level in Europe, which must be analysed in order to identify the actions needed at EU level to enhance coherence and promote best practice for bridges and where relevant for transport infrastructures at large.
Scope:
The proposals should include at least the following activities:
A critical review of the relevant maintenance and monitoring procedures in all EU Member States and in a number of relevant other countries;
An inventory and a complete analysis of the proven most advanced technologies, methodologies and standards used to monitor and control the safety, stability and good operation of bridges and other relevant transport infrastructures across their lifespan;
Identification of the international state of the art for damage detection technologies (both non-destructive and destructive) and methods for assessment, retrofitting and assuring reliability and safety of bridges and other relevant transport infrastructures;
Identify technical, economic, environmental, social and administrative barriers for the safe operation and maintenance of bridges and other relevant transport infrastructures;
Identify ways to adequately reflect deviations from design specifications (increased use, higher loads, climate change, extended life) in maintenance programmes;
Propose a roadmap for the systematic adoption of easily and quickly deployable technologies to predict durability of materials, components and overall reliability of existing bridges and other relevant transport infrastructures;
Provide the technical input for an EU standard and guidance material based on best practices for the control, risk assessment and maintenance of bridges and other relevant transport infrastructures;
Creation of relevant stakeholders networks (e.g. authorities, industry, academia, etc.) to share the findings of this CSA and develop implementation strategies.