Assessing, Coding, and Marking of Highway Structures in Emergency Situations, Volume 2: Assessment Process Manual (2016)

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66 C H A P T E R 8 Assessment tools and technologies (both simply referred to as “technologies” herein) range from simple devices and field tools to high-tech sensing and computing equipment. Technologies are indispensable in responding to emergency events and in assessing damage to highway struc- tures both during emergency situations and day-to-day operations. In addition, technologies can play a vital role in efficient and effective coding and marking. This chapter recommends assessment, coding, and marking technologies that are appropriate to identify, evaluate, map, or quantify damage on highway structures. Technology recommenda- tions are associated with the suggested four assessment stages (FR, PDA, DDA, and EI) described in detail in Section 5.1. This discussion focuses on the FR and PDA stages. These recommendations are grounded in the concepts of organizational (or institutional) maturity to classify different technologies for appropriate selection, which are described in the next section. Adequate training opportunities should be available and completed by PDARs. Note that many types of FR do not require SHA personnel to work in the field and can be conducted from an office or remote platform. However, PDA, DDA, and EI are all field- based inspection activities. For this reason, it is recommended that PDARs be equipped with the appropriate safety equipment per each SHA’s existing policies and regulations. “Best-practice” equipment lists compiled from several SHAs are introduced at the end of this chapter. 8.1 Classification of Recommended Technologies Three classes are used to describe a technology’s availability for practical use: (1) commonly used technology, (2) available-for-use technology, and (3) emerging technology. The recommended technologies are assigned to a class based on a thorough evaluation process that considered state-of-the-art literature and reported best practices. However, a technology’s classification may change as it advances and market forces come into play. Four criteria were used to classify the technologies: technological maturity; organiza- tional maturity; applicability of the technology in terms of damage extent, level, types, and timelines; and evaluation of the technology in terms of many specific parameters (see Volume 1: Research Overview for further details). Technological maturity focuses on the readiness of the technology itself. Organizational maturity concerns an SHA’s current comfort level with the technology and implies the general accessibility of resources or training materials within an SHA. Table 8-1 describes the technological maturity and organizational maturity of each class. Supporting Technology

Supporting Technology 67 8.2 Technology Recommendations for Fast Reconnaissance Efficient and effective FR quickly provides a global perspective of the geographic extents of the damaged region as well as the overall severity of the damage. It is based on rapid technology- based observation and/or reporting from both SHA personnel and the public. For example, the resulting GIS map products from a FR campaign that display the extents and communicate the severity of damage across those extents will provide key guidance in prioritizing routes for engineers conducting manual inspections (e.g., PDA). 8.2.1 Real-Time or Predictive Damage Estimation Various predictive, near-real-time hazard or disaster mapping products can be utilized imme- diately after (or prior to in some cases) the event to understand the extent and intensity of the emergency and even the likely damage from the event: • Predictive hazard forecast or loss estimation may be implemented for highway structures before a scenario event or in the immediate aftermath. For example, well-developed weather event forecast programs including NOAA’s hurricane and storm surge simulation tools can be used to estimate the wind speed and the inundation depth geographically. For predictive loss estimation, the best of the practice would be to use the GIS-based ShakeCast (USGS 2014c) or FEMA’s Hazus-MH (FEMA 2015) package to generate loss estimations and damage maps for common emergency event types (earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding). It is noted that for estimation of highway structure damage, it requires prepared GIS-based inventory of structures, as described in Section 4.3.1. Availability Technological Maturity Organizational Maturity Commonly used Operational as in the MCEER definition (Tralli 2000) Field proven or TR9 as in the NASA definition (NASA 2012) Herein interpreted as fully operational and practice proven in assessment practices Examples include visual inspection aided by digital camera; smartphone, smart tablets, hand- held GPS device Proficient or best practice (AASHTO 2013) In terms of training opportunities, (1) training opportunity is greatly available or (2) training opportunity is frequent and internal staff is capable of training others Available for use Same as above however involving use of equipment that is specific (i.e., for a certain type of damage, structure, or emergency event) Examples include survey equipment such as lidar, total station, or GPS Same as above however requiring special training for the specific equipment operation Emerging Out of research and development phase and in development phase as in the Texas DOT definition (Jin et al. 2013) for emerging technology Higher than the maturity of a technology that is scientifically feasible and tested in relevant environments as defined in NASA’s TR6 definition Herein interpreted as the emerging assessment technology that has been tested feasible and effective in limited disaster practice Examples includes crowdsourcing and mobile technologies Awakening or structured (AASHTO 2013) In terms of training opportunity, (1) no formal training materials are available or, (2) at most, some training materials are available Source: Adapted from Jin et al. (2013), NASA (2012), Tralli (2000), and AASHTO (2013). Table 8-1. Technology classification in terms of maturity metrics.

68 Assessing, Coding, and Marking of Highway Structures in Emergency Situations: Assessment Process Manual • Near-real-time hazard intensity mapping technologies can track the damage extent or moni- tor emergency event intensity immediately following the event, such as earthquakes and storm surges, which produces real mapping of products reflecting the intensity of the event. Today, many emergency events are monitored or tracked by modern radar or geodetic sensing networks. Examples are included in Table 8-2. • Re-routing algorithms can consider damaged locations and provide recommendations for alternative travel on the highway network. • Emerging technologies, especially for earthquakes, that combine intensity monitoring, loss estimation, aftershock forecast, and remote-sensing-based damage detection are being devel- oped (e.g., the E-Decider project). 8.2.2 Data Gathering Various FR technologies (Table 8-3) for data gathering are recommended for quickly assess- ing spatially distributed highway structures and networks within a region as well as to inform the prioritization of on-the-ground assessments. The most commonly used technologies include (1) citizen-based or public reporting through SHA operation centers or the national 511 travel information system and (2) helicopter- or small-aircraft-based overview survey. Public reporting through hotlines to the SHA’s operation/management centers have been a mature practice adopted by many SHAs for obtaining emergency event and road/structure condition (including possible highway structure damage) information from the general public. Although the reporting may be point-based or sporadic, such information can be collected near real time as the public observes the damage in the first place. The aerial survey method conducted by SHA personnel can provide a rapid visual assessment of emergency event extent and damage to critical highway structures. Geo-tagged digital cameras may be used for recording purposes during the flight and can be integrated with other ongoing damage mapping efforts. For smaller events, a vehicle can be driven without stopping in the affected area to determine the extent of the damage with a similar approach. Data on the emergency extent and severity can be obtained from several other near-real-time or rapid technologies, including the following: • Remotely sensed imaging: Data obtained from the USGS’s Hazard Data Distribution System or the International Charter, both of which usually respond quickly for large-scale disasters Pre-emergency Event Assessment Technology General Availability Classification Available Resources Hurricane forecast and simulation Available for use NOAA National Hurricane Center (www.nhc.noaa.gov) and Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (www.hfip.org) Tornado and storm forecast Available for use NOAA Storm Prediction Center (www.spc.noaa.gov/products/wwa) Hazard modeling-based loss estimation for earthquakes, flooding, and hurricanes Available for use FEMA Hazus loss estimation (www.fema.gov/hazus) and USGS ShakeCast (earthquake.usgs.gov/research/software/shakecast) Transportation inventory/ databases Available for use National Bridge Inventory database (www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/nbi.cfm) Seismic shaking maps Available for use USGS ShakeMaps (earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap) Seism FEMA = Federal Emergency Management Agency, NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USGS = United States Geological Survey ic deformation and aftershocks forecast Emerging E-Decider project (www.e-decider.org) Table 8-2. Predictive hazard forecast, loss estimation, and near-real-time hazard mapping technologies for use prior to FR operations.

Supporting Technology 69 (e.g., from commercial satellites). These data provide rapid coverage of an event extent and damage potential. • Civil Air Patrol, FEMA’s community-based civilian pilot program: The Civil Air Patrol data (oblique imagery) for an emergency event have been widely used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and Oklahoma’s Moore tornado for rapid disaster assessment, and decision making. • Several promising and emerging technologies: (1) small UAVs (or drones) used for small- scale event reconnaissance and (2) crowdsourcing through the use of specially designed smart apps (e.g., SpotOnResponse) for collecting near-real-time disaster data from the public or the professional communities. These technologies usually produce data in the form of geospatially distributed data points, vector maps, oblique-view aerial images, or geo-tagged ground images. All of these data sources are suitable for immediate information fusion in GIS to support decision making and to create appropriate detour routes, minimizing traffic congestion problems that can lead to accidents or slow emergency event response efforts. 8.3 Technology Recommendations for Preliminary Damage Assessment The PDA stage is performed immediately following an incident, likely within hours, to provide information on the need for action such as road or bridge closures and to define immediate reme- dial action if needed. GIS-based preliminary damage mapping from the FR stage will provide two key decision-making elements for the PDA activities. First, a critical list of highway structures that demand further evaluation will be noted in a digital or paper-based mapping product for PDA. Second, an optimal route that facilitates the PDARs’ access to the structures can be generated. Post-emergency Event Technology General Availability Classification Available Resources Public reporting (i.e., through phone calls) to the SHA’s transportation operation/ management center Commonly used Examples include Virginia DOT’s Report a Problem (www.virginiadot.org/travel /citizen.asp) and Delaware DOT’s Report a Road Condition (www.deldot.gov /ReportRoadCondition/) Helicopter- or small-aircraft- based aerial survey Commonly used NA Commercial satellite/airborne sensing (providing optical or visually interpretable images) Available for use USGS Hazard Data Distribution System (hddsexplorer.usgs.gov) or the International Charter (www.disasterscharter.org) Community-based oblique imaging Available for use FEMA Civil Air Patrol program (www.capvolunteernow.com) Advanced GIS integration and interoperability technologies Emerging Esri web-based disaster response GIS service (www.esri.com/services/disaster-response) XchangeCore framework for interagency information reporting, sharing, and interoperability (www.xchangecore.org) Low-cost airborne imaging (e.g., radio-controlled or GPS way-point UAVs or unmanned aerial systems) at a regional scale Emerging Research at University of Vermont funded by U.S. DOT (www.uvm.edu/trc/transportation-research- center-uas-project-awarded-new-round-of- grant-money) Crowdsourcing through professional or the general public communities using smart apps Emerging SpotOnResponse (www.spotonresponse.com) and FEMA Rapid Observation of Vulnerability and Estimation of Risk program (www.fema.gov/earthquake-training/rapid- observation-vulnerability-and-estimation- risk) Table 8-3. Post-emergency event observation-based FR technologies.

70 Assessing, Coding, and Marking of Highway Structures in Emergency Situations: Assessment Process Manual Table 8-4 summarizes technologies suitable for PDA as well as their general availability, clas- sifications, and resources. These technologies emphasize rapid inspection and data recording when working with highway structures or their structural elements. Digital photographs can be useful to document the damage. Geo-positioning of field data (e.g., geo-tagging) can be collected using GPS devices and geo-tagging–capable imaging devices. The geo-tagged data can then be reported to the central repository and can be integrated with the GIS-based emergency databases previously developed during the FR stage. With this database support, the assessment in this stage may generate a preliminary percent damage estimate of the structure that can be used to develop overall preliminary damage estimates for the incident. Note that a single, modern, mobile smart device (e.g., Android-, iOS-, or Microsoft Windows– based tablets and smartphones) usually integrates many of the essential tools for PDA including still and video cameras, GPS receiver, communication hardware, and maps with planned routes. The use of such devices with these basic functionalities, if possible, along with the pre-installed PDA app in one mobile device can greatly improve the efficiency of field inspection. When not available, visual inspection with manual completion of forms becomes the last resort (with the aid of manual devices, e.g., cameras, tapes, and notebooks). In the case that communication networks are not available, a local copy of the central structural database can be pre-loaded on the smart device for offline access. Once a connection becomes avail- able the device can automatically synchronize with headquarters. (Note that during emergency situ- ations, it may be advantageous to disable or limit this syncing process if there is reduced bandwidth). It is expected that in-situ decision making can be conducted and achieved for the object-of- interest, resulting in a damage rating and coding determination (Chapter 6) using these tech- nologies. However, conclusive decisions may not be reached for some complex structures in a PDA, requiring more information through a DDA and more advanced technologies. Along with the technologies, it is important to identify the information that is useful for PDARs and inspectors in the field and that which is important for the emergency operations center. Certain types of data can be pre-loaded on mobile devices (e.g., tablets). However, too Recommended Technology General Availability Classification Available Resources Digital camera Commonly used No training needed Mobile imaging/video logging Commonly used No professional training needed Personal laptops/mobile computers Commonly used No professional training needed Personal communication devices Commonly used No professional training needed Smart devices that embed digital cameras, GPS, and communication Commonly used No professional training needed Personal GPS/GNSS devices Commonly used No professional training needed Digital or paper maps Commonly used No professional training needed Cloth/tape measures/carpenter level/calipers/compass/level/laser distance measures and others Commonly used No professional training needed Signs/marking supplies and materials Commonly used No professional training needed Human visual inspection Commonly used Volume 3: Coding and Marking Guidelines, FHWA Highway Bridge Inspection: State-of-the-Practice Survey (www.fhwa.dot.gov /publications/research /nde/pdfs/01033.pdf) High water markings Commonly used Abboud and Kaiser (2012), Arneson et al. (2012), Huizinga and Waite (1994), Idaho DOT (2004), Pennsylvania DOT (2014) Table 8-4. Recommended technologies for Preliminary Damage Assessment.

Supporting Technology 71 much data can overwhelm the inspectors in the field; therefore, completeness and conciseness should be in balance. Note that IT staff at the SHAs may be needed to ensure that the mobile devices are up to date with software (e.g., a PDA smart app) and database versions, as applicable. 8.3.1 PDA Field Equipment Structures within a transportation network pose uncertain dangers to inspection personnel especially after a major disastrous event. Technology equipment for inspection, basic and rou- tine tools, protection, and safety gear and materials should be readily available in kits. These kits can be checked periodically during the emergency events planning and preparation (e.g., pre-event drills and training). In this section, a comprehensive list of tools, gears, and materials (or “supplies” in general) for use in field inspection for the PDA stage is provided in Tables 8-5 and 8-6. This recommendation is based on the best practice developed by several SHAs (Appendix D). Prepackaged for Individual PDAR Prepackaged for an Office Quickly Available and Allocated Assessment forms Communication devices (radio transmitters) Vehicles Tool kit (includes inspection equipment, safety equipment, and personal supplies; see Table 8-6) Charging equipment Tablets (charged) Placards Backup supplies Smartphones (charged) Table 8-5. Item list for Preliminary Damage Assessment. Inspection Equipment Clipboard Assessment forms 100′ measuring tape Flashlight Notepad 25′ pocket tape Red paint marker and ribbon Yellow paint marker and ribbon Green paint marker and ribbon Pens and pencils Hammer Keel/crayon Binoculars Cellular phone Flagging tape Duct tape Portable ladder Digital camera Pliers Micrometer Wire brush Chipping hammer Pocket knife Scraper Traffic control equipment Rope Shovel Boat* Waders* Underwater probe* Electronic and Communication Equipment State or local maps Laptop computer with charger Copies of latest structure inspection files Flash drives Identification badges Walkie-talkies or statewide radio Satellite phone Safety Equipment Hard hat Work boots Safety vest Ear plugs Safety glasses Rubber boots Rain gear Work gloves Rubber gloves Dust mask Traffic cones Personal Supplies First aid kit Drinking water Sanitary items (e.g., toilet paper) Food *Specialized PDAR teams for evaluating scour-critical structures Table 8-6. Recommended equipment list for Preliminary Damage Assessment.