Development of Various Bridge Condition Indices for Taiwan Bridge Management System

Taiwan is an island exposed to various natural disasters. Currently inventory and inspection data of the existing 28,000 bridges in Taiwan are managed by the Taiwan Bridge Management System (T-BMS). Thus, this research aims at developing a mechanism for fast and automatic evaluation of bridges’ abilities to resist possible damages caused by the natural disasters as well as by traffic loads. Four individual condition indices, in the term of “degree of resistance” are defined first for floods, mudflows, earthquakes, and for traffic loads. A final evaluation of the bridge’s overall ability of resistance is determined accordingly. The developed mechanism is being verified and modified and will be completed in a few months.