A study to determine feasibility and define the general structure of a bridge management system (bms) for the texas state departmentof highways and public transportation's 47, 000 highway bridges is described. The decentralized nature of bridge management in the sdhpt's district offices suggests that a bms for texas should have primary applicability at the district level. Specific recommendations for the characteristics and scope of a bms are presented. Development ofthe recommended bms is planned to culminate with implementation in september, 1992, followed by a period of evaluation and refinement. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1290, Thirdbridge engineering conference, march 10-13, 1991, denver, colorado, volume 2.
Abstract