Automated Data Feature Extraction from Bridge Plans

In bridge engineering, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have been employed to enhance the efficiency of the structural design phase, aid in the selection of optimal bridge types, produce cost estimates, conduct realtime structural health monitoring, predict structural response and deterioration, reconstruct data for comprehensive health assessment, and prioritize maintenance efforts.

The TRB IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Program's NCHRP IDEA Final Report for Project 230: Automated Data Feature Extraction from Bridge Plans applied ML/AI techniques to automate the process of extracting data and features from drawings, tables, and text blocks contained in bridge plan sets using state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms and produced a novel computational platform that automates the process of reviewing bridge plans to identify, extract, and report select engineering details.