Abstract Manager

Canada’s aging infrastructure is at risk from climate change-induced extreme weather events. Although reactive maintenance practices have been employed in the capital asset management of reinforced cast-in-place concrete bridges, particularly in Ontario, these strategies often result in higher life-cycle costs and unanticipated service disruptions. By integrating historical performance data with predictive models, decision-makers can gain clearer insights into deterioration trends and vulnerability hotspots. This paper presents a data-driven approach for capital asset planning, enabling the proactive management of the future risks posed by climate change. A correlation is drawn between changes in the bridge condition index data from 2001-2020 collected in Ontario and local climate data. Based on the obtained data, predictions on the future deterioration rates of bridges in Ontario is made. A case study using bridge inventory data in Ontario demonstrates the proposed methodology of connecting life-cycle costs to climate factors. Applying the framework enables bridge owners to better predict deterioration, prioritise interventions, and allocate resources — ultimately extending service life, reducing costs, and enhancing resilience.