Underwater inspection of bridge components (elements) is a requirement of the Code of Federal Regulations 23 CFR 650. Underwater inspection by divers requires methodical planning to ensure the safety of the dive team. Diving in turbid water or in high current decreases diver safety and increases the potential for incomplete assessment of the submerged elements. Emergency inspections, as a result of earthquakes or flooding, can take weeks to complete. Underwater imaging methods may provide the ability to increase diving personnel safety as well as rapid assessment of underwater bridge elements.

Improve methods to assess the performance of existing transportation structures and increasing employee safety by reducing exposure of personnel to hazards encountered while performing underwater inspections. This proposal is to research the application of sonar imaging, remote operated vehicles and video technology as compared to diving inspections to satisfy the inspection requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations 23CFR650, Level I and II Underwater Inspections.

The contractor will develop a detailed working plan for the achievement of the intended project goal. The work plan will contain project milestones, a work plan critical path chart detailing the delivery of each milestone including, quarterly reports and meetings with the contract manager. The contractor shall submit a 2-year work plan to the contract manager for approval. The contractor will be responsible for accomplishing the project goals by concurrently or separately performing the following tasks: 1. Literature search of current use of all types of sonar-imaging including: underwater video technology, ROV's, sector scan sonar methods, side scan sonar, multi-beam sonar and other related underwater imaging technology currently available. 2. Synthesis of current underwater inspection techniques from all states performing underwater bridge inspection programs, participating underwater bridge inspection consultants, and port infrastructure inspection 3. Code of Federal Regulations 23CFR650 requires 100% Level I and 10% Level II Inspection of the underwater bridge elements. Comparisons between actual diver inspections, satisfying the CFR requirements, and the technology being considered will be done on the basis of quality, effectiveness, reliability, and detail of inspection. 4. Onsite testing and evaluation of each technology will be done on selected bridge sites. Testing will include all techniques comparing: completed inspection costs per site for each method including a breakdown of the cost of hardware, reliability of the technology, operating restrictions, computer needs/demands, output size and storage options, system packages, staffing levels, equipment mobilization needs, and ability to satisfy the CFR. 5. Testing will be in all types of water conditions: turbid, low flow (<3ft/sec), high flow (>3ft/sec), salt water, zero visibility, contaminated, deep and shallow channel depth, etc. Additionally, testing will be done on different types of structures including single and multi element concrete and steel sub-structures and timber structures. 6. The contractor will be responsible for supplying the manpower, purchasing all technology materials/hardware/systems/consumables, computers and required imaging software, any required tooling or special fittings, and vehicles necessary for the testing of underwater imaging technology and diving inspections. 7. The contractor shall prepare a final report outlining the technical aspect of the technology, the design and testing of the technique, test results, discussion, conclusions, and recommendations. Documentation and presentation of the research findings should meet the recommendations of Section 5000 of the California Department of Transportation Research Manual. 8. All diving operations shall be done with Surface Supplied diving gear and conducted in compliance with the following regulations: 29 CFR 1910 Subpart T--Commercial Diving Operations, 46 CFR 197 Subpart B--Commercial Diving Regulations, 8 CCR 152/153 Diving Operations, Association of Diving Contractors International CONSENSUS STANDARDS For Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations, and in accordance with industry accepted diving practices for decompression and no-decompression diving operations including contaminated water diving.