An Integrated Data-Driven System for Digital Bridge Management

Abstract

Relational databases are established and widespread tools for storing and managing information. The efficient collection of information in a database appears to be a promising solution for bridge management (BM), thus facilitating the digital transition. The Italian regulatory framework on infrastructure operation and maintenance (O&M) is complex and is constantly being updated. The current plan for implementing its guidelines envisages that infrastructure managers, also on a regional scale, equip themselves with their own digital database for BM. Within this context, this research proposes an integrated methodology that collects information derived from project documentation, in situ inspections, digital surveys, and monitoring and field tests in a queryable database for digitalising, georeferencing, and creating models of many bridges. Structured query language (SQL) statements are used to efficiently export specific shared information, enabling network cross-analysis. Furthermore, the database represents the source of a geographic information system (GIS) catalogue and the basis for deriving models for building information modelling (BIM). The methodology focuses on the infrastructural context of the Lazio region, Italy, the first beneficiary of the research.