ABSTRACT
Approximately 40% of all bridges within Canada’s transportation network are older than 30 years, and 30% of all bridges in the United States are functionally deficient or obsolete (Hassanain & Loov 2003). The current infrastructure deficit in Canada is estimated as $125 billion and is a result of designing and building structures without regard for their continued satisfactory performance over their useful service lives (Mirza & Haider 2003). Other countries find themselves with similar deficit backlogs (e.g. Khan 2000, Kaneuji et al. 2007, Akgül 2007). Worldwide, municipalities are therefore facing similar quandaries: (1) how to effectively manage their aging infrastructures with the limited funds available, and (2) how to effectively design new structures with consideration to their performance and maintenance needs throughout their useful service lives. This paper addresses the latter topic.
