FHWA/NSF Workshop: Future Directions for Long-Term Bridge Performance Monitoring, Assessment, and Management; held Las Vegas, Nevada, 2007.

桥梁是美国公路基础设施网络中最重要的组成部分之一。从多车道的城市高速公路到双车道的农村公路，高速公路上有近60万座桥梁和涵洞，公路网的运营和功能在很大程度上取决于这些结构的性能。为了改善桥梁管理，已经采取了许多举措，最新的是最近批准的高速公路中纳入的长期桥梁性能(LTBP)计划。虽然LTBP计划为桥梁的有效管理提供了资金和一般机制，但其推动力和组成部分的细节尚未确定。拟议研讨会的总体目标是将桥梁所有者、联邦政策制定者、研究人员、国家专家和国际专家聚集在一个物理地点，最终目标是为桥梁长期性能计划的未来方向和活动制定路线图。拟于2007年初举行为期两天的会议。据设想，在研讨会结束时，将编写一份有洞察力、透彻和实用的报告，基本上涵盖所有关键讨论和建议。拟议的研讨会和研讨会提出的建议对美国公路桥的安全和经济至关重要。研讨会参与者的集体智慧将确定FHWA、NSF和州交通部门在研究、现场实施、监测、评估、决策过程和桥梁管理方面近期和长期遵循的趋势和方向。该计划初期资金的有效和有远见的支出有助于促进未来阶段的联邦预算分配，最终结果是使用最新技术的更安全、更可靠和更经济的桥梁。

Bridges constitute one of the most important components of the highway infrastructure network in the United States. With nearly 600,000 bridges and culverts on highways ranging from multi-lane urban freeways to two-lane rural highways, the operation and functionality of the highway network greatly depends on the performance of these structures. Many initiatives towards improving bridge management have been undertaken, the latest being a program for long-term bridge performance (LTBP) incorporated in the recently approved highway. While the LTBP program provides funding and a general mechanism for effective management of bridges, the details of its thrust and its components are yet to be established. The overall objective of the proposed workshop is to bring together bridge owners, federal policy makers, researchers, national experts, and international experts in one physical location with the ultimate goal of formulating a roadmap for the future direction and activities of the long-term bridge performance program. A two-day meeting to be held in early 2007 is proposed. It is envisioned that at the conclusion of the workshop an insightful, thorough, and practical report is compiled that essentially captures all the key discussions and recommendations. The proposed workshop and the recommendations that will result from the workshops are of pivotal importance to the US highway bridge safety and economy. The collective wisdom of the workshop participants will set the trends and directions that FHWA, NSF, and state departments of transportation will follow in near and long terms with respect to research, field implementation, monitoring, assessment, decision process, and bridge management. Effective and visionary expenditure of the funds for the initial phase of the program could help facilitate the allocation of federal budget for future phases, with the end result being safer, more reliable, and more economical bridges that utilize the latest technologies.