Abstract Manager

Stantec’s Bridge Management System (BMS) software is used to manage provincial and municipal bridge inventory data, inspection records, future condition forecasting, budget planning, and network risk profiling in jurisdictions across Canada. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has been using the BMS since 2013.

In 2024, Stantec was commissioned by the GNWT to update not only the unit costs, but also other models in the system. The cost components included unit replacement costs for various types of bridges (such as steel girder bridge and corrugated steel pipe culverts) and unit treatment costs for elements (such as deck joint replacement, bearing repair, asphalt wearing surface patching, concrete pier repair). Another key component of this assignment was to develop the 2024 Bridge Asset Management Plan (AMP). The bridge AMP includes reporting on the current and forecasted condition of their inventory, performing life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), benefit-cost analysis, risk analysis, and providing recommendations for the 5-year and 10-year bridge and culvert priority programs and budgets. Condition and risk were reported and compared to performance targets. Condition is reported using the standardized bridge condition index (BCI) having categories of Good, Fair, or Poor. Structures are analyzed and reported in a risk matrix of probability and consequence having risk categories of High, Medium-High, Medium, and Low.

The report also provided several analyses to forecast the condition of the inventory under different budget scenarios: zero-dollar spending, limited budget, and unlimited budget over the next 5 and 10 years.
Critical findings from the previous biennial inspections that are not yet addressed were also reported including maintenance needs, performance deficiencies, recommended work, and critical elements. Additionally, a report containing the current total replacement costs and asset valuations of the inventory was provided.

In addition to satisfying the annual AMP reporting, the report provides a template for future AMP in which the Department can use the BMS to provide the required information and simply updating the report.

In a future version of the Department AMP, a variety of Performance Measures based on the desired Levels of Service (LOS) will be reported using information from the BMS. The following LOS standards are required in the Department Standard Operating Procedures with different values for Lifeline, Primary or Secondary highways:
1. Bridge Condition Index (BCI) average and breakdown into Good, Fair, and Poor categories
2. Load Carrying Capacity (load ratings)
3. Vertical Clearance
4. Risk Profile (e.g., limiting high-risk category to x%)