Health monitoring and hazard mitigation of highway bridges

Rapid assessment of a bridge structure's safety and functionality is a crucial procedure in restoring vital lifeline routes after a hazardous event. However, executing preparatory actions before a hazardous event occurs, and conducting feasible remedial actions during such an event, are also essential to bridge safety. This paper introduces a process for hazard mitigation of highway bridges through the example of an application of earthquake mitigation. Earthquake mitigation consists of three components: pre-earthquake, during-earthquake, and post-earthquake mitigation. Pre-earthquake mitigation consists of a seismic evaluation of all applicable bridges and a prioritization of the seismic vulnerability of these bridges. Simultaneously, pre-earthquake mitigation requires the implementation of earthquake-response training programs for the necessary earthquake-response personnel. Due to the short duration and unpredictability of earthquakes, no form of during-earthquake mitigation is currently possible. Post-earthquake mitigation consists of the use of post-earthquake investigation software that assigns a bridge safety-rating to effected bridges as the first stage of a two-stage approach to guide professional and non-professional personnel in making post-earthquake response decisions. The software is a bridge safety-rating program prepared for the state of Kentucky in the Southeastern United States in order to accelerate bridge investigations following an earthquake. The methodology and concepts presented herein can be extended to other types of hazard mitigation in other states and countries.