Conversion Between Network-level and Project-level Units of Measure for Use in a Bridge-Management System

About the report

VDOT is implementing Pontis 3.0 to provide the analytical component of its Bridge Management System (BMS). This system prioritizes bridge maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement (MRR&R) needs using cost/benefit analysis. The accuracy of this analysis depends on the condition assessment of the structure and the cost data of MRR&R options used in the analysis. For the network-level analysis a BMS provides, the focus is on what work was done to an element rather than how it was done. To standardize the MRR&R actions taken at the network level, commonly recognized (CoRe) elements have been identified and are used in Pontis. For each element, a set of feasible MRR&R actions has been defined. How these actions are accomplished is tracked on the project level. Contracted bridge work is managed using industry-standard pay items and quantities. There is a great deal of historical project-level data from previous contracts. However, there has not been any large scale network-level data collection effort. The purpose of this project was to examine cost management practices in VDOT and to develop an architecture for an automated project-level to network-level cost conversion process. This process should provide accurate updated cost data to Pontis by (1) using pay codes, quantities, and other contract information; (2) combining this information with existing inventory information and new inspection information about the structure; (3) reporting what CoRe feasible action was taken and the associated unit cost; and (4) providing this information in a Pontis-usable format. The investigation of cost management revealed a number of areas where VDOT could improve its practices. The research addresses potential remedies for some and, in some cases presents potentially viable conversion schemes.

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