pontex bridge inspection management system · 2017. 1. 4. · bridge management information system....
TRANSCRIPT
PonTex Bridge Inspection
Management System
Transportation Short Course October 12, 2011
What is PonTex?
►System to manage bridge safety inspections ►Developed in-house ►Relational database ►Web-based ►Role-based ►Will replace (but not yet retire) BRINSAP
Why PonTex? …or… What’s Wrong with BRINSAP
►Legacy brige inspection data (BRINSAP) resides on the mainframe.
►BRINSAP is in flat file format – not a relational database.
►BRINSAP data is not “live” – updated weekly (or whenever batched mainframe transactions are run).
Why PonTex?
►BRINSAP won’t accommodate elemental inspection data.
►BRINSAP error checking is on back end. ►BRINSAP has limited audit capability. ► BRINSAP will not willingly integrate into a
Bridge Management Information System.
PonTex Attributes
►Security – PonTex security is "role-based." A user can only perform those activities allowed by the role.
►Data Quality – PonTex validates data before it can be submitted for approval.
►Activation Requirements – A set of required fields must be validated before a new bridge can be added to inventory.
PonTex Attributes
►Elements – PonTex stores elemental data. ►History – All inspections are stored in PonTex
(not just most current). ►Audit – All changes to bridge, roadway and
inspection data are logged (who, what, when). ►Digital Attachments - Capability to store images,
etc. associated with inspection event.
PonTex Access
►Each individual user must have an account.
►Citrix connection through internet: https://txdotsg.dot.state.tx.us
The Dreaded Citrix Gateway (more on this later)
PonTex Tabs
PonTex Overview: Inspection Life Cycle
Assignment
Inspection
Review
Assignments
Assignment
Assignments
►The "Assignment" tab is used to assign bridges to Bridge Division Inspectors, Primary Contractors, Subcontractors, and Team Leaders.
►Bridges are selected from the assignment tab,
which can be filtered by County, Control, Section, System, etc.
►Company, contract information, team leaders, and
subcontractors must first be created through the Company Tab, Contract Tab, and Users Tab.
Assignments
►A bridge is assigned to a Prime Contractor through a "Contract" and "Work Authorization.“
►A District Bridge Inspection Office user can assign bridges to Prime Contractors.
►Prime Contractors can assign bridges to their own Team Leaders or to a Subcontractor.
Assignment to Team Leader
Inspection
Inspection
Inspection
►Team Leader retrieves assigned bridges. ►Span by span elements and components are
created for on-system and Harris County bridges
►Team Leader conducts inspection, recording NBI data for all bridges and Elemental data.
►Team Leader submits inspection to Prime.
NBI Inspection Items
Review
Review
►Team Leader submits inspection to Prime. ►Prime accepts, rejects, or amends. ►Prime submits inspection to District Bridge
Inspection Office. ►District accepts, rejects, or amends. ►Similar process when subs are involved.
Review
Review
Reject Inspection
"Prime Contractor" Amend Inspection
PonTex Implementation
►February 2008: Initial release (for testing only): Austin District Fort Worth District San Antonio District Dallas District
PonTex Implementation
► February 2009:
Odessa District and Rio Engineering
►All districts
moved to PonTex by July, 2011.
Initial Assessment…… PonTex – Friend or Foe?
► PonTex is plagued by Citrix connection problems. ►Down time is at an unacceptable level. ► Inspection costs are up. ►Work authorizations are taking longer to complete. ► Inability to input and submit inspection data is
affecting apparent compliance.
PonTex – Friend or Foe?
Citrix Issues ►Unreliable servers ►Load balancing problems (assigned servers) ►TxDOT is running the “latest unsupported
version of CITRIX.”
PonTex – Friend or Foe?
► Inspection costs have risen significantly from 2009 to 2011: On-system additions +35% Off-system additions +21%
► Increase in the number of extension requests for Work Authorizations.
► Increase in apparent number of bridges exceeding designated inspection frequency.
►Connection issues have slowed development of PonTex enhancements.
Friend or Foe?
►Connection issues have been elevated. ►TSD is working with TFT to resolve Citrix
issues. ►Considering a stand-alone work station
version of PonTex that doesn’t require an active Citrix connection to input data.
Further Down the Road
► Implement version 5.2 of PONTIS (release date is unknown at this time).
► PonTex will feed PONTIS. ►Will use PonTex elemental inspection data to build
initial deterioration models. ► Inspection data, deterioration models, and cost
data will need to be integrated within PONTIS for bridge condition forecasting for various funding and action scenarios – maintenance, rehabilitation, replacements.
