Overhead Sign Structures – Condition-Based Management / Indiana DOT
Overhead sign structures are critical to safe and effective highway performance since they support signs, cameras, sensors and other equipment in support of routine and emergency operations. These structures typically have long service lives, but failure risk exists if they are not maintained. Indiana DOT found that failure to their overhead sign structures could be effectively mitigated through routine, real time condition monitoring and condition forecasting for predicting failure. Therefore, the Indiana DOT uses a condition-based approach for maintaining its overhead sign structures.
Indiana DOT’s condition-based maintenance approach involves the steps listed below to ensure the overhead sign is installed corrected, material specifications are met, and the connection to the ground is secure:
- Professional engineers perform inspections
- An asset inspection report is developed
- The asset inspection reports are submitted to the districts
- The districts review the reports and prioritize work activities
- Work orders are developed to address the highest-priority needs
- In-house crews or local contractors perform the work
As a result of the DOT’s condition-based maintenance approach, the department realized an increase in the amount of collaboration between districts and an improvement in how overhead sign structure repairs and replacements are monitored and prioritized.
Source: FHWA (2019). Handbook for Including Ancillary Asses in Transportation Asset Management Programs (pending publication in 2019).
Read more in the chapter: 4.2.1 Life Cycle Management Approaches