The paper defines a "bridge management spectrum" and portrays it by describing the features of three bridge management systems which capitalize on rapidly advancing computer technology. The paper then shows the importance of such systems in the management of Canada's transportation network. On the basis of the author's experience in implementing bridge management systems, the paper defines the following bridge management spectrum comprising three levels of increasing complexity: Basic bridge inventories and data reporting systems; Project-level knowledge-based systems prioritizing maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement; Network-level knowledge-based systems for strategic and financial planning relative to large bridge populations. The paper describes the following three microcomputer-based bridge management systems, which in many respects correspond to the above three levels of increasing complexity: MBADES (Municipal Bridge Appraisal Data Entry System), BRIMMS/Road and BRIMMS/Rail (BRIMMS - Bridge Rehabilitation, Inventory and Maintenance Management System), and BRIDGIT. (A)
Abstract