The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) allocates funding for and supervises several millions of roadway and bridge construction every year. The inspection procedure is currently based on traditional methods, whereby tests are conducted and the quantities are taken, to enable progress payment to the contractor. Most of the current methods are manual. It would be beneficial for FDOT to utilize modern technologies such as Global Position Systems (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to enhance its inspection program, on ongoing roadway and bridge construction projects, as well as for project analysis during construction. FDOT generates its engineering drawings, typically using MicroStation and GEOPAK software programs. The graphical output of these programs can now be easily converted into GIS basemaps, with the appropriate establishment of geographical coordinates. Many roadway construction works involve large quantities of earthwork. As the contractor excavates or fills, the spatial data (x,y,z coordinates) can be collected using GPS receivers in the filed and mapped in a GIS environment into a basemap. The GIS basemap can then be analyzed to obtain quantities and costs of pay items, as well as to provide a comparison of the GPS field data with the coordinates indicated in the basemap. Likewise, the earthwork borrow pit can be continuously monitored by FDOT inspectors using GPS/GIS tools. Length or number counts and correct positioning can be checked for installed pipes, pavement stripping, reflective markers, manholes, etc. Bridge construction could also be monitored through collection of appropriate spatial data to capture position data and information on deck area, slab thickness, pile length, etc. With the current availability and affordability of sub meter and sub centimeter accuracy in GPS receivers, coupled with the current effort by the FDOT Mapping Office towards GPS enhancement, the application of tools proposed for the study will be very beneficial to FDOT. FDOT is also interested in computerizing its construction inspection process through the use of portable, handheld computer devices. These devices would allow users to do the following: to graphically compose a selection set of elements for inspection; to input inspection results for each, linear and pay item instances; to review inspection history by graphically selecting elements; to perform specialized inspection activities using customized forms; and to review customized inspection reports. The objective of the research is therefore to develop tools, based on modern technologies, that FDOT can use to inspect ongoing roadway and bridge construction projects. (Author/publisher)
Abstract