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Office of International Programs

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Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems in Japan and Europe

Prepared by the International Scanning Study Team:

Mary Lou Ralls
Texas DOT
Co-Chair

Ben Tang
FHWA
Co-Chair

Shrinivas Bhidé
Portland Cement Association

Barry Brecto
FHWA

Eugene Calvert
Collier County, FL

Harry Capers
New Jersey DOT

Dan Dorgan
Minnesota DOT

Eric Matsumoto
California State University, Sacramento

Claude Napier
FHWA

William Nickas
Florida DOT

Henry Russell

Henry G. Russell,
Report Facilitator
American Trade Initiatives, Inc.

LGB & Associates, Inc.
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
National Cooperative Highway Research Program

(Panel 20-36)
of the Transportation Research Board

January 2005
FHWA International Technology Exchange Program

The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Technology Exchange Program assesses and evaluates innovative foreign technologies and practices that could significantly benefit U.S. highway transportation systems. This approach allows for advanced technology to be adapted and put into practice much more efficiently without spending scarce research funds to recreate advances already developed by other countries.

The main channel for accessing foreign innovations is the International Technology Scanning Program. The program is undertaken jointly with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and its Special Committee on International Activity Coordination in cooperation with the Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-36 on “Highway Research and Technology—International Information Sharing,” the private sector, and academia.  

FHWA and AASHTO jointly determine priority topics for teams of U.S. experts to study. Teams in the specific areas being investigated are formed and sent to countries where significant advances and innovations have been made in technology, management practices, organizational structure, program delivery, and financing. Scanning teams usually include representatives from FHWA, State departments of transportation, local governments, transportation trade and research groups, the private sector, and academia.  

After a scan is completed, team members evaluate findings and develop comprehensive reports, including recommendations for further research and pilot projects to verify the value of adapting innovations for U.S. use. Scan reports, as well as the results of pilot programs and research, are circulated throughout the country to State and local transportation officials and the private sector. Since 1990, FHWA has organized more than 60 international scans and disseminated findings nationwide on topics such as pavements, bridge construction and maintenance, contracting, intermodal transport, organizational management, winter road maintenance, safety, intelligent transportation systems, planning, and policy.

The International Technology Scanning Program has resulted in significant improvements and savings in road program technologies and practices throughout the United States. In some cases, scan studies have facilitated joint research and technology-sharing projects with international counterparts, further conserving resources and advancing the state of the art. Scan studies have also exposed transportation professionals to remarkable advancements and inspired implementation of hundreds of innovations. The result: large savings of research dollars and time, as well as significant improvements in the Nation's transportation system.

For a complete list of International Technology Scanning Program topics and to order free copies of the reports, please see the list contained in this publication and at www.international.fhwa.dot.gov , or e-mail international@fhwa.dot.gov .

FHWA International Technology Exchange Reports

International Technology Scanning Program:

Bringing Global Innovations to U.S. Highways

Safety

Traffic Safety Information Systems in Europe and Australia (2004)

Signalized Intersection Safety in Europe (2003)

Managing and Organizing Comprehensive Highway Safety in Europe (2003)

European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)

Commercial Vehicle Safety, Technology, and Practice in Europe (2000)

Methods and Procedures to Reduce Motorist Delays in European Work Zones (2000)

Innovative Traffic Control Technology and Practice in Europe (1999)

Road Safety Audits—Final Report and Case Studies (1997)

Speed Management and Enforcement Technology: Europe and Australia (1996)

Safety Management Practices in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand (1995)

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in England, Germany, and the Netherlands (1994)

Planning and Environment

Transportation Performance Measures in Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand (2004)

European Right-of-Way and Utilities Best Practices (2002)

Geometric Design Practices for European Roads (2002)

Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Across European Highways (2002)

Sustainable Transportation Practices in Europe (2001)

Recycled Materials In European Highway Environments (1999)

European Intermodal Programs: Planning, Policy, and Technology (1999)

National Travel Surveys (1994)

Policy and Information

European Practices in Transportation Workforce Development (2003)

Intelligent Transportation Systems and Winter Operations in Japan (2003)

Emerging Models for Delivering Transportation Programs and Services (1999)

National Travel Surveys (1994)

Acquiring Highway Transportation Information from Abroad (1994)

International Guide to Highway Transportation Information (1994)

International Contract Administration Techniques for Quality Enhancement (1994)

European Intermodal Programs: Planning, Policy, and Technology (1994)

Operations

Superior Materials, Advanced Test Methods, and Specifications in Europe (2004)

Freight Transportation: The Latin American Market (2003)

Meeting 21st Century Challenges of System Performance Through Better Operations (2003)

Traveler Information Systems in Europe (2003)

Freight Transportation: The European Market (2002)

European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)

Methods and Procedures to Reduce Motorist Delays in European Work Zones (2000)

Innovative Traffic Control Technology and Practice in Europe (1999)

European Winter Service Technology (1998)

Traffic Management and Traveler Information Systems (1997)

European Traffic Monitoring (1997)

Highway/Commercial Vehicle Interaction (1996)

Winter Maintenance Technology and Practices—Learning from Abroad (1995)

Advanced Transportation Technology (1994)

Snowbreak Forest Book—Highway Snowstorm Countermeasure Manual (1990)

Infrastructure—General

European Practices in Transportation Workforce Development (2003)

Contract Administration: Technology and Practice in Europe (2002)

European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)

Geometric Design Practices for European Roads (2001)

Geotechnical Engineering Practices in Canada and Europe (1999)

Geotechnology—Soil Nailing (1993)

Infrastructure—Pavements

Pavement Preservation Technology in France, South Africa, and Australia (2003)

Recycled Materials In European Highway Environments (1999)

South African Pavement and Other Highway Technologies and Practices (1997)

Highway/Commercial Vehicle Interaction (1996)

European Concrete Highways (1992)

European Asphalt Technology (1990)

Infrastructure—Bridges

Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems in Japan and Europe (2005)

Bridge Preservation and Maintenance in Europe and South Africa (2005)

Performance of Concrete Segmental and Cable-Stayed Bridges in Europe (2001)

Steel Bridge Fabrication Technologies in Europe and Japan (2001)

European Practices for Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures (1999)

Advanced Composites in Bridges in Europe and Japan (1997)

Asian Bridge Structures (1997)

Bridge Maintenance Coatings (1997)

Northumberland Strait Crossing Project (1996)

European Bridge Structures (1995)

All publications are available on the Internet at www.international.fhwa.dot.gov

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The scanning team members wish to thank all of the host transportation agencies, researchers, contractors, associations, and private firms for their gracious hospitality and for sharing their time and experiences with the scanning team. Without exception, the team was warmly received in every country and by every person.

The team also appreciates the amount of professional preparation, effort, and attention to detail provided by the staffs of the organizations. Much was learned in each country. Furthermore, doors to future cooperation and technology transfer were opened.

The team also thanks the Federal Highway Administration Office of International Programs and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for their encouragement, guidance, and support, and American Trade Initiatives, Inc. for its organization and support in planning and executing the scanning study.

Acronyms and Abbreviations
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AFGC French Association of Civil Engineers
BASt Federal Highway Research Institute (Germany)
BMVBW Federal Department of Transportation, Construction, and Housing
CERIB Centre d'Étude et de Researches l'Industrie du Béton (Technical Center for the Concrete Industry)
CETE Centres d'Etudes Techniques de l'Equipement (Technical Studies Center for Public Works)
CIP Cast-in-place
DOT Department of transportation
EU European Union
EUR Euro
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
HPC High-performance concrete
JHC Japan Highway Public Corporation
LCPC Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (Central Laboratory for Public Works)
NCHRP National Cooperative Highway Research Program
PCC Portland cement concrete
SETRA Service d'Étude Techniques des Routes et Autoroutes (Technical Department for Public Works and Transportation)
SNCF French National Railway Authority
SPER Sumitomo Precast form for resisting Earthquakes and for Rapid construction
SPMT Self-propelled modular transporter
TRB Transportation Research Board
UHPC Ultra high-performance concrete
¥ Yen
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Page last modified on November 7, 2014
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