Published on 29-Jun-2011
Validated on 08 Jan 2013
"Having the ability to evaluate disparate events recorded by sensors affords us the capability to dynamically assess the integrity of material that supports our nation’s roadways, with reduced man power. In the end, we want to help provide a cost-effective means to maintain our bridges and ensure everyone’s safety." - Dr. Brian MetrovichAssociate Professor of Civil Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Customer:
Case Western Reserve University, Case School of Engineering
Industry:
Education
Deployment country:
United States
Solution:
Business Analytics, Business Resiliency, Cloud & Service Management, Enabling Business Flexibility, Enterprise Modernization, Managing Risk, Smarter Planet, Virtualization, Collaborative Innovation, Dynamic Infrastructure
Overview
Case Western Reserve University is one of the country’s leading private research institutions, offering a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Its faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Its nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. Within the Case School of Engineering, the Department of Civil Engineering actively conducts research and is involved in sponsored programs funded through grants.
Business need:
With more than one in four existing bridges either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, the engineering school’s Department of Civil Engineering needed greater insights into the operating conditions and structural deterioration of bridges to better assess the current and future reliability of these structures.
Solution:
Understanding traffic patterns and other operating conditions on the nation’s interstate bridges, as well as stress factors such as corrosion, is vital to helping inspectors and engineers more efficiently assess and maintain these structures. A new solution allows sensors to be added for continuous real-time monitoring. Damage data from a truck passing can now be correlated across sensors that measure different physical (acoustic, strain) parameters. By detecting complex patterns of events from these sensors, automated notifications can trigger alerts when safety thresholds are exceeded.
Benefits:
- Projected to save money by efficiently using funds for limited maintenance
- Improved monitoring efficiency without compromising safety
- A vast improvement in the quality of the nation’s transportation infrastructure will lead to safer conditions for commercial and private travel
Case Study
Case Western Reserve University is one of the country’s leading private research institutions, offering a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Its leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Its nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. Within the Case School of Engineering, the Department of Civil Engineering actively conducts research and is involved in sponsored programs funded through commercial, state and federal grants that advance knowledge and improve the quality of human life. An associate professor of Civil Engineering at this university led this first-of-a-kind research project related to “smarter bridges.”
The Opportunity
With more than one in four existing bridges either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, the engineering school’s Department of Civil Engineering needed greater insights into the operating conditions and structural deterioration of bridges to better assess the current and future reliability of these structures.
What Makes It Smarter
Understanding traffic patterns and other operating conditions on the nation’s interstate bridges, as well as stress factors such as corrosion, is vital to helping inspectors and engineers more efficiently assess and maintain these structures. A new solution allows sensors to be added for continuous real-time monitoring. Damage data from a truck passing can now be correlated across sensors that measure different physical (acoustic, strain) parameters. By detecting complex patterns of events from these sensors, automated notifications can trigger alerts when safety thresholds are exceeded. Now damage to bridges can be estimated—and prevented—with increasing accuracy.
What if you could effectively monitor the safety and structural integrity of thousands of bridges and tunnels across the company
Solution Components
- IBM R3 Messaging
- IBM WebSphere Message Broker
- IBM WebSphere Business Events
- IBM DB2
- IBM Cognos 8
Real Business Results
- Projected to save money by efficiently using funds for limited maintenance
- Improved monitoring efficiency without compromising safety
- A vast improvement in the quality of the nation’s transportation infrastructure will lead to safer conditions for commercial and private travel
For more information
Please contact your IBM sales representative or IBM Business Partner. Visit us at: ibm.com/education
To learn more about Case Western Reserve University, visit: case.edu
Products and services used
IBM products and services that were used in this case study.
Software:
Cognos 8 Workforce Performance, WebSphere Business Events, WebSphere Message Broker, DB2 Tools
Legal Information
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2011 IBM Corporation 1 New Orchard Road Armonk, NY 10504U.S.A. Produced in the United StatesJune 2011All Rights Reserved IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, Cognos, DB2 and WebSphere are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web at “Copyright and trademark information” at ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. The information contained in this documentation is provided for informational purposes only. While efforts were made to verify the completeness and accuracy of the information contained in this documentation, it is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In addition, this information is based on IBM’s current product plans and strategy, which are subject to change by IBM without notice. IBM shall not be responsible for any damages arising out of the use of, or otherwise related to, this documentation or any other documentation. Nothing contained in this documentation is intended to, nor shall have the effect of, creating any warranties or representations from IBM (or its suppliers or licensors), or altering the terms and conditions of the applicable license agreement governing the use of IBM software.