SCDOT Receives FHWA “Accelerated Innovation Deployment” Grant
April 1, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is one of six state Departments of Transportation to receive Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grants to fund demonstration programs for innovative road and bridge work that will lead to better, safer infrastructure. The grant comes from the agency’s “Accelerated Innovation Deployment” program.
SCDOT’s $787,104 grant will be invested in structural health monitoring (SHM) technology used to complement visual bridge inspections. The grant will allow SCDOT to use the technology in the field to determine if SHM can be effectively used statewide.
SCDOT has been utilizing SHM for several years. The technology has been used on the Ravenel Bridge as well as two others. SCDOT bridge engineers have used the portable version of this technology on other bridges to determine their load carrying capacity.
SHM has already proven to be beneficial for SCDOT:
- On one occasion it has saved SCDOT $700,000 in repairs.
- Assisted bridge engineers in monitoring and stopping overweight activity.
- The Ravenel Bridge installation has provided base line data for this “high value” signature asset. SHM is providing data on day-to-day performance as well as monitoring the structure during a wind or seismic event.
Secretary of Transportation Janet P. Oakley commented on the announcement of this grant awarded to SCDOT. “We thank FHWA for recognizing SCDOT’s efforts to be innovative and on the cutting edge of technology, particularly in the area of infrastructure safety. This grant will expand our current program and increase our capabilities for a wider range of structures. An expanded SHM program will further assist us in making more cost effective structural and cash flow decisions,” said Oakley. SHM will assist SCDOT bridge engineers in making decisions ranging from load restrictions to rehabilitations and replacement.
Because the SHM program in South Carolina is a demonstration project, SCDOT can share results from the data with other states interested in deploying this proven technology.
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