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WASHINGTON — ITS America presented a Smart Solution Spotlight award to Alpharetta, Ga.–based LifeSpan Technologies for pioneering cost-effective structural monitoring technologies that provide state and local agencies with precise, objective information about the structural condition of bridges — information that could be used to monitor and evaluate the condition of tens of thousands of structurally deficient bridges across the country.

“Today’s economic reality is that most state and local governments have far too many infrastructure needs and too little money to keep up with increasing demands on our transportation system,” said Scott Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America, who presented the award to LifeSpan Technologies for their innovative use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to create a safe, clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation system.

“By investing in smart technologies to help manage their infrastructure, public agencies can better leverage scarce resources to focus on the most critical needs, hopefully avoiding another tragedy like the Minneapolis I-35W bridge collapse,” Belcher added.

Using sensors and wireless and information technologies, LifeSpan Technologies provides public agencies with the ability to continuously monitor and deliver real-time information to decision makers about changes in bridge conditions. Sensors can monitor a multitude of conditions including crack growth, strain, and relative movement which could indicate a potential or imminent structural problem with the bridge.

Results Being Achieved Across the Country
• Pennsylvania: When faced with a decision to spend nearly $900,000 on repairs for the Hawk Falls Bridge on the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension, the Turnpike Commission wondered if this was a project that could wait or if they needed to move fast to avoid a structural deficiency on the Turnpike’s highest bridge. The Turnpike Commission turned to LifeSpan Technologies, which installed a series of sensors and information technologies to better determine the actual condition of the bridge. After a thorough engineering evaluation, it was determined that the rehabilitation project was not essential, providing a nearly 700 percent return on investment in roughly one year while ensuring the safety and structural integrity of the bridge.
• South Carolina: The Pee Dee and Santee River Bridges in South Carolina were candidates for replacement. Years of salt water corrosion appeared to have taken their toll, but for the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) that meant spending more than $1 million when there were other competing needs. Using LifeSpan’s technology, the South Carolina DOT determined that both bridges were structurally sound and could safely wait for replacement.

“The structural monitoring solutions provided by LifeSpan Technologies are helping us enhance safety and make more optimal decisions regarding repair of these two bridges,” said State Bridge Maintenance Engineer Richard “Lee” Floyd, who noted that SCDOT is safely deferring a major capital project for the Pee Dee River Bridge that would cost in excess of $750,000.

According to LifeSpan Technologies President and CEO Peter J. Vanderzee, “With so much ‘smart’ decision information potentially available for transportation owners/operators and no long-term funding solutions in sight, state DOTs and elected officials should insist on more rapid adoption of advanced condition assessment technologies that can provide objective, accurate, and timely information to enhance safety and lower life cycle costs. The taxpayers deserve no less.”