IGF::OT::IGF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT INCLUDES FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST THREE MAIN TASKS AIMED AT DEPLO…

Public award description

IGF::OT::IGF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT INCLUDES FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST THREE MAIN TASKS AIMED AT DEPLOYING THE REFERENCE-FREE DISPLACEMENT ALGORITHM ON THE XNODE AND USING IT TO DETERMINE BRIDGE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY GUIDELINES (E.G., GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED) THAT CAN ASSIST RAILROADS IN MANAGING/MAINTAINING BRIDGE ASSETS AND PRIORITIZING REPAIRS. THE LAST TASK IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE PROJECT AND TO TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE (WORK PACKAGE 1) IS TO OPTIMIZE AND PORT THE DEVELOPED REFERENCE-FREE DISPLACEMENT ALGORITHM TO THE XNODE. THE SYSTEM WILL BE EASY TO INSTALL AND REMOVE FROM THE RAILROAD BRIDGE ENVIRONMENT (1-DAY CAMPAIGN). THE SECOND OBJECTIVE (WORK PACKAGE 2) IS TO PLAN AND CONDUCT CAMPAIGN MONITORING OF IN-SERVICE RAILROAD BRIDGES AND ESTABLISH DATABASES WHICH CAN BE A BASELINE FOR ASSESSING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THE THIRD OBJECTIVE (WORK PACKAGE 3) IS TO DEVELOP INDICATIVE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY GUIDELINES (E.G., GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED) BASED ON THE ESTABLISHED DATABASES AND A GUI THAT WILL ASSIST RAILROAD PERSONNEL IN MAKING ON-SITE MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY DECISIONS. THE GUIDELINES WILL RELATE THE ESTIMATED DISPLACEMENT FOR EACH CLASS OF BRIDGE (E.G., TIMBER TRESTLE OR STEEL TRUSS) WITH SPECIFIED CONDITIONS TO ALLOW A BETTER BASIS FOR BOTH MAINTENANCE/REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND SAFETY DECISIONS TO BE MADE. THE FINAL OBJECTIVE (WORK PACKAGE 4) PROVIDES QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AS WELL AS PREPARES FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE ACHIEVED BY THESE FOUR WORK PACKAGES, IS TO PROVIDE BRIDGE PERSONNEL AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ASSESSING CONDITION OF RAILROAD BRIDGES UNDER REVENUE SERVICE TRAFFIC.