ODOT Culvert Inventory & Inspection Program

Ohio defines a bridge as any structure with span or diameter equal to or greater than 10 feet as measured along the centerline of the road. Any structure less than 10 feet is considered a culvert. Ohio defines a bridge as any structure with span or diameter equal to or greater than 10 feet as measured along the centerline of the road. Any structure less than 10 feet is considered a culvert. Bridges in Ohio are inspected annually. Bridges in Ohio are inspected annually. Until now, there was no statewide program for culvert inspection. Until now, there was no statewide program for culvert inspection. Failure of a large culvert can be as detrimental as failure of a bridge. Failure of a large culvert can be as detrimental as failure of a bridge. Background

Background – Impetus for Program I-480 Dec. 2001

Background

Background Culvert failures can result in hazards to the motoring public and or lead to expensive emergency projects Culvert failures can result in hazards to the motoring public and or lead to expensive emergency projects Costly MOT High Risk Conditions

Background Reduce or Eliminate the potential for unexpected failures of culverts under Ohio’s roadways and highways – No Surprises! The main purpose of the Culvert Management Program:

Prior Practices Culverts are inspected by maintenance forces ahead of resurfacing projects. This generally works, but has some flaws: Culverts are inspected by maintenance forces ahead of resurfacing projects. This generally works, but has some flaws:  Larger culverts are beyond maintenance crew abilities and were left out of the project scope.  Replacements may happen after the resurfacing.  Having no standard practice for evaluating the structure leads to disagreements on remaining life.

Inventories existed in various formats throughout the districts. (Spreadsheets, Paper, Bridge Management System) Inventories existed in various formats throughout the districts. (Spreadsheets, Paper, Bridge Management System) No centralized way to query culvert data. No centralized way to query culvert data. Blast!! If only this computer could tell me about the culvert!! *CURSES!* Prior Practices - Inventory

Solution Culvert Management Program was created in It features a Culvert Management Manual that contained two main categories: Inventory Inspection

Program was given to the Districts in 2003, but was never enforced or made policy by Central Office Program was given to the Districts in 2003, but was never enforced or made policy by Central Office Central Office IT Department was developing a Culvert Management Database for Statewide use Central Office IT Department was developing a Culvert Management Database for Statewide use Developer at Central Office died and the Culvert Management Database stalled to a stop Developer at Central Office died and the Culvert Management Database stalled to a stop Culvert Management Program

District 1 & 2 Developed an ODOT Asset Management System District 1 & 2 Developed an ODOT Asset Management System Culverts were included as an item in the Asset Management System Culverts were included as an item in the Asset Management System

Culvert Management Database

Culvert Database Office of Hydraulic Engineering (OHE) was developed into an Office in May of Tasked to develop the Statewide Culvert Management Database. Office of Hydraulic Engineering (OHE) was developed into an Office in May of Tasked to develop the Statewide Culvert Management Database. Database and data collection method developed by ODOT District 1 & 2 was evaluated Database and data collection method developed by ODOT District 1 & 2 was evaluated –ODOT Asset Software – Written for Windows Mobile 6 Operating System OHE decided to implement this system Statewide in an effort to standardize District data OHE decided to implement this system Statewide in an effort to standardize District data

District Data 12 Districts within ODOT – Each had different ways of keeping data: 12 Districts within ODOT – Each had different ways of keeping data: DistrictFormat 1GIS Database 2 3Old Inventory – Decided to start over 4GIS Database – Different from D1 & D2 5Bridge Management System (BMS) Database 6Access Database 7Old Inventory – Decided to start over 8Mainframe Database - BMS 9Bridge Management System (BMS) Database 10Access Database 11Paper Copies 12Access Database

District Data Some Districts followed Culvert Management Manual Some Districts followed Culvert Management Manual Some Districts followed a portion of the Culvert Management Manual. Some Districts followed a portion of the Culvert Management Manual. Some Districts developed their own items to inventory & inspect Some Districts developed their own items to inventory & inspect

District Data District data was requested by OHE for “scrubbing” to be rolled into the Statewide Database District data was requested by OHE for “scrubbing” to be rolled into the Statewide Database Several data sets have been “scrubbed” and rolled with assistance from District 2 Several data sets have been “scrubbed” and rolled with assistance from District 2 Ongoing effort Ongoing effort

Current Status

District Data Collection OHE requested the each District purchase the necessary hardware to facilitate culvert data collection OHE requested the each District purchase the necessary hardware to facilitate culvert data collection –Trimble GeoExplorers –Most Districts already had hardware As data is rolled into the statewide database, Districts are trained on how to collect data using the equipment As data is rolled into the statewide database, Districts are trained on how to collect data using the equipment Data is collected in the field and then downloaded into the database Data is collected in the field and then downloaded into the database –Current methods only allow ODOT employees to download data

Culvert Database Future

Merge with Bridge Management System (BMS) Database Culvert database will be merged into a newly developed BMS database Culvert database will be merged into a newly developed BMS database Data collection methods will be supported by new BMS Data collection methods will be supported by new BMS –Hardware used to collect data will change to a Windows 7 Operating System –Currently looking at the Trimble Yuma Tablet Additional data collection methods (ie: web based input) will be supported Additional data collection methods (ie: web based input) will be supported –Allows Local Governments to utilize the program

Database will assist in management and design policy decisions. Database will assist in management and design policy decisions. –Where the funds need to be spent. –Life cycles based upon different site and/or apprasial condition variables. Database will allow for easy user interface such as a visual GIS map. Database will allow for easy user interface such as a visual GIS map. Wow! This is great! I can find out everything about culverts. Culvert Database

Database will accept photos, sketches, notes, etc Database will accept photos, sketches, notes, etc A maintenance aspect will be added to the database, which assigns responsibility A maintenance aspect will be added to the database, which assigns responsibility Anticipate that new Database will be active within months Anticipate that new Database will be active within months –Still in scoping phase of the new BMS Culvert Database

Questions / Comments Direct Questions and Comments regarding Culvert Management to: Jeff Syar The Culvert Management Manual, Forms and Information can be found at