#35 Rich St. Bridge Scanning at the MWBPP in Columbus, OH

While exhibiting at the Midwest Bridge Preservation Partnership (MWBPP) in Columbus this week, NEXCO also scanned a nearby bridge selected for a bridge inspection technical tour. The tour featured a close look at the superstructure and substructure, as well as a debrief on current NBI and AASHTO ratings. Our deck top scanning results will be shared during this month's MWBPP online meeting.

Read more ▶

#34 Norfolk, VA Tunnel Thermographic Analysis Featuring Automated Imaging Technology

NEXCO-West USA was awarded a tunnel leak inspection contract by Elizabeth River Crossings (ERC) based on its proven experience inspecting civil structures using infrared technology and performing pavement inspections within the same jurisdiction. NEXCO acquired images by traveling approximately 1.2 km inside the tunnel using vehicle-mounted infrared cameras and line cameras, detecting leaks and deformations on the tunnel's concrete surfaces. In addition to the roadway section, pushcart-type equipment was developed to walk and capture images within a neighboring utility corridor housing cables, pipelines, and emergency evacuation passages. As a means of capturing data in the utility corridor, a robot furnished with field-proven embodied AI was used to traverse the length of the corridor passages. This fully autonomous quadrupedal robot was developed by FieldAI, a strategic partner of Kajima Corporation. It was introduced experimentally to test whether fully autonomous movement could improve on-site operational efficiency. The robot proved capable of avoiding numerous obstacles without pre-mapping, recognizing and avoiding openings in the floor, and allowing for the addition of external equipment like cameras. Initial results showed promising potential for reducing long and strenuous labor hours while enhancing the efficiency and stability of imaging results.

Read more ▶

#33 15th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management

NEXCO-West USA, Inc. (NEXCO) participated in the Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Conference in Chicago, IL. We gave two presentations. Building Resilient Highways Through Innovation and Collaboration, How can AI sustain safe, resilient highways in a country facing demographic challenges? This question guided Nexco-West's pilot with Vaisala RoadAI, where patrol vehicles were equipped with cameras to capture real-time data on potholes, cracks, signs, etc. The project demonstrated how AI can complement the expertise of engineers, supporting Japan's shrinking workforce while strengthening maintenance practices. At the 15th TAM Conference, we shared these insights and met peers such as PSI Technologies, whose technical rigor and sustainability focus reflect the values essential to resilient infrastructure. The combination of AI-enabled workforce support and the commitment of experienced, trusted peers to sustainable pavement practices shows how innovation and responsibility can shape safer, smarter and more resilient highways worldwide. Mobile Non-Destructive Testing (NDE) Technology Applications for Bridges and Road Pavements NEXCO presented on the application of mobile non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for bridges and roadway pavement. The presentation included an introduction of two categories of NDE: direct coupling methods and rapid collection methods. Focusing on the rapid collection methods, NEXCO showed how visual, infrared, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) sensing can be used to quantify deficient findings in concrete and asphalt structures. Two case studies were reviewed: a reinforced concrete bridge deck analysis by vehicular scanning and a mixed material pavement evaluation. The bridge deck involved a daytime, posted speed-limit scan of the deck surface and shallow subsurface using visual and infrared sensors, then a subsequent nighttime scan which captured GPR data by rolling lane closure at 10mph. Findings included quantities of things such as cracks, subsurface delamination, and patches of rebar corrosion. The pavement case study featured a hybrid approach to the inspection of a strip of roadway within the city of Peoria, IL. Teaming with a reality capture partner company, NEXCO help produced a comprehensive condition assessment of the roadway, with findings being reported in a 3D manner both above and below ground. Subsurface layers were mapped, feature of interest were marked with polygons at appropriate depths (surface or subsurface), and the general location and measurements of ancillary structures near the roadway were mapped.

Read more ▶