The Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center (TRANS-IPIC) is excited to be working with Dr. Chaozhe He from the University at Buffalo on the research project “Continuous & Low-cost Inspection of Precast Concrete Bridges using Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs)”. This research is set to redefine how bridges and highways monitor their own health—paving the way for smarter, safer infrastructure.
By leveraging the penetration of connectivity and the advances in vehicle autonomy, infrastructure can request passing vehicles to continuously and instantaneously collect critical information that exposes signs of structural issues. Ultimately, this capability extends the lifespan of infrastructure, ensuring safer and more efficient transportation infrastructure. As a foundational step, this project is developing an implementable framework that enables precast concrete bridges to proactively request connected automated vehicles to inspect for early signs of deterioration in vulnerable areas, such as joint cracking, grout spalling, and reflective cracking. By acquiring these targeted inspection results, the bridges can assess the severity and progression of these signs and continuously monitor their health status. By the end of this project, the team aims to demonstrate this innovative framework at a pilot bridge in New York State, showcasing the potential for smarter, more resilient infrastructure.