Using reliability-based models to assess rehabilitation needs

Due to increasing budget constraints, funding available to maintain, rehabilitate, improve, or replace aging US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) structures is declining with respect to funding requirements. Therefore, the available funds must be selectively invested to achieve maximum benefits. To compete for scarce appropriation resources, USACE districts are now required to justify civil works rehabilitation project funding by demonstrating a need for improvement in reliability or efficiency. A risk-based benefit-cost model is utilized to establish funding justification. This analysis model requires input to assess the current condition of a structure and its degradation rate. This methodology incorporating both reliability and economic aspects would aid in forming a nationwide planning system.