Metodología para la conservación de puentes que permitan avanzar hacia estructuras resilientes

Road infrastructure performance is of paramount importance in terms of competitiveness indices for any country, with bridges usually being one of the most vulnerable elements within the infrastructure network. In asset management cycles, bridge assessment methodologies have typically been limited to a damage exposure.

Investment in bridge-infrastructure normally depends on public investments, which usually address immediate damages but rarely emphasize in their causes. Therefore, interventions seldom linger over time.

On the other hand, the generation/selection of pre-defined indicators as a tool for decision making allow policymakers to execute actions based on facts.

Consequently, the proposed methodology considers the calculation of a BHI (health index) that considers the vulnerability of the structure (BCI) and the threats (SCI, HCI) that allow an analysis of the environment (hydrometeorological and seismic conditions), as well as a prioritization considering socioeconomic importance.

The use of these indicators derives into an initial recommendation of preservation activities.

Nonetheless, whenever an indicator falls into unacceptable or deficient classes, a root-cause analysis is required to identify the causes of the identified pathologies, which ultimately establishes interventions that allow for a reduction in the vulnerability of the pathologies. Finally, a comprehensive assessment and the application of mitigation measures, will translate into more resilient structure.