ABSTRACT
The transport infrastructures (rail, road, waterways) in Germany are ageing and a considerable proportion of them need to be repaired and upgraded. As the civil engineering structures for these modes of transport have much in common regarding their design and damage, and because it is necessary to find sustainable solutions for the future quickly, it makes sense to work together in this area. This takes place within the BMVI network of experts.
Due to the complexity and interdependencies between various aspects of the subject of “maintenance”, it has also proved useful to conduct the joint activities in four key areas in parallel. There are “Condition Assessment/Monitoring”, “Reliability”, “Measures/Forecast/Vulnerability (Resilience)” and “Construction during road use”.
All of this work is important to achieve technically expedient, environmentally friendly, long-lasting and economical construction projects on site. Here too, there is need for substantial optimisation to minimise interference with transport and the environment while nevertheless carrying out construction work of high quality.
Familiar processes and methods are explored, adapted and expanded, subjected to practical tests on an individual object and in pilot areas, and the findings obtained shared internally and with external actors.
Only in this way is it possible to take reasonable account of the challenges of ever faster changes to marginal conditions and amass a joint body of expert knowledge.
