The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force is excited to announce the release of AASHTOWare Bridge Management (BrM) version 6.7. This is the last major release before the overhaul of BrM (version 7.0) to meet the new coding guide requirements as well as improve the product’s framework for sustainability. The Task Force would also like to thank the Beta Testing TAG for all their hard work over the last several months, including traveling to Pittsburgh, PA in February for an onsite beta testing session with Mayvue. All testing and user recommendations to improve this release were invaluable.

This release delivers several high-priority enhancements, user improvements, and bug fixes:

• NBI Conversion Profiles – This enhancement was the top-voted user priority for BrM since the 2021 BrMUG. This enhancement separates each bridge component (deck, superstructure, substructure, and culvert) into its own profile, providing the user with more flexibility and control.
• Ancillary Assets Module – This module enables agencies to create certain transportation infrastructure asset types and define fields and elements necessary to conduct inspections as well as collect inspection data and multimedia. It provides various other enhancements including permissions, updates to the mapping widget for ancillary assets, adding previous comment control, editing the landing page, and much more. It is noted that the BrM SuperSite license support is limited to bridges, tunnels, dams, and structural roadway appurtenances and does not cover other asset types (e.g., office buildings, pavement, etc.).
• Visual Dashboard Editor (VDE) – This tool allows agencies to create dashboards by querying the BrM database and modifying the output to their needs. This provides visual and summary information for all sorts of uses. Additionally, the dashboard responds with counts from the queries and allows the user to open the results in the table below. The 6.7 release comes with an out-of-the-box, default dashboard that is shown below. The Task Force plans to host a webinar covering the setup, querying, and various uses of the dashboard enhancements added in BrM 6.7.
  
• Request for Action (RFA) – Added the Ancillaries > Sign Request for Action task, as well as an RFA landing page to the Admin > General Config > Manage Asset Types task, and added a Request for Action as a context in subfolders in Admin > General Config > Multimedia.
• BrM Cookie Setting Updates – BrM 6.7 now allows users to log into more than one instance of BrM at a time.
• Configurable Landing Page – Added the ability for a user to configure its landing page by using a selector on the user profile page.
• Element Specification – Added a checkbox to allow for setting elements as active/inactive and added a modeling-only checkbox to all for an element to be part of deterioration modeling but prevent it from being selectable in the Element Condition grid.  
• Bulk Utility Task – BrM 6.7 adds the Analysis > Bulk Utility task to calculate and view the utility value and health index of selected bridges based on a selected weight profile. This was on the user group’s priority list as well.
• Various Bug Fixes and Improvements – The full list is supplied with the release notes.

Download BrM 6.7 Now

AASHTOWare BrM 6.7 and supporting documentation are now available for download from ShareFile:

• BrM67_Enterprise(64bit).zip – This is the install for BrM Enterprise if you have BrM installed.
• BrM67_Workstation.zip – This is the install for BrM Workstation if you do not have BrM installed.
• BrM67_Updater.zip – This is for those that already have BrM 6.x installed and want to upgrade to the latest version.

BrM 6.7 Release Video

Please make sure to read the attached Release Notes and supporting documentation before installing BrM 6.7. Email brm@mayvue.com with any questions or concerns, or if any issues during the installation process.

Sincerely,
The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force

February 2023

The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force product update is provided to keep all AASHTOWare Bridge Management (BrM) Software users apprised of recent activity related to the development of the software. The Task Force is committed to providing quarterly updates to help improve communication between the Task Force and those interested in the product.

BrM 7.0

Mayvue is working on the BrM 7.0 updates as final details are being defined. Specifically, a meeting with the Database TAG will be occurring in the near term to define the 7.0 database structure. The early 7.0 release is planned for Spring/Summer 2023, at which time the agencies that have contributed the full solicitation amount will receive a test environment where they can see the latest development progress and begin testing. The Mayvue-supplied cloud-hosted environment will be updated as development progress is made until the official 7.0 release is provided to users in 2024. As part of this process, Mayvue will be reaching out to the contributing agencies to define the unique needs associated with the cloud-hosted environments. The Task Force, Mayvue, and the user community alike are excited that this next chapter in the BrM lifecycle is underway. Please reach out to the Task Force members if you have questions.

BrM 6.7 Status Update

BrM 6.7 is fully developed and is currently being beta tested. Members of the Testing TAG traveled to Pittsburgh, PA during the week of February 6th, 2023, to complete testing of the 6.7 release in person with Mayvue. The testing was successful and yielded a few changes before it is ready for official release to the user community. In the meantime, beta testing is continuing at the agency’s offices while Mayvue builds another release for consideration.

As previously discussed, the 6.7 release includes a Dashboard tool that enables agencies to set up, manage, and view a variety of visualizations within BrM. The release also provides a much-anticipated Ancillary Assets module that will enable agencies to set up various (transportation infrastructure specific) asset types and begin collecting inventory and inspection data. An NBI conversion profile enhancement, which was high on the user priority list is provided in the release as well. Finally, Mayvue has added various other features and maintenance fixes since the 6.6 release in July 2022.

BrM 6.7 should be available to the user community in March 2023 and will be the last version 6.X release of BrM. Future releases will use the BrM 7.X platform in support of the new coding guide.

Dashboards – BrM 6.7 Highlight of Coming Functionality

Dashboards have been a highly anticipated addition to the BrM software for several years. This was the highest voted priority for users during the 2021 BrMUG. The 6.7 release will provide a dashboard widget that supplies users with tools to create and modify their visual dashboards within BrM.

User-defined queries pull data from the database into visual dashboards. Agencies can create these dashboards and use the Visual Forms Editor to display specific information on pages of their choice. The release notes will provide users with examples and additional information to quickly generate dashboards, as it requires some setup and querying to be properly handled.

We look forward to seeing the interesting and useful dashboards that users create at the next BrMUG!

Solicitation Update

The Task Force would like to thank the agencies who have contributed to the 7.0 solicitation efforts. These contributions are ensuring the BrM software will meet the new coding guide requirements and take full advantage of the opportunity to create a sustainable product for the next generation. To those who are still working internally to contribute – your support is still needed. We understand this is can be a complicated process and we thank you for the efforts to push this to fruition. If your agency has not contributed, there is still time to do so. Every contribution helps to make the product better and more sustainable. Please reach out to the Task Force, Mayvue, and/or Ryan Fragapane for more information about the benefits and process for contributing.

We are all excited about the result: A new version of the BrM software that meets the new NBIS rules and the ever-growing needs of transportation agencies.

AASHTOWare BrM Mobile Inspection powered by Mayvue

Member Departments and Associate Members wishing to use the AASHTOWare Bridge Mobile Inspection powered by Mayvue can license this application through AASHTO.

This application enables agencies to conduct inspections via Android and Apple phone or tablet devices remotely. It works offline and online to allow inspectors to collect inspection information without an internet connection. Please reach out to Mayvue or Ryan Fragapane for more information or to request a demonstration for your agency.

Save the Date

Please save the date for the 2023 Bridge Management User Group (BrMUG) meeting which will be held September 19 – 20, 2023 in Boise, ID.

November 2022

Solicitation Update

While contributions to the solicitation continue to come in, the work plan for the BrM 7.0 software release is being finalized. AASHTO, the Task Force, and Mayvue recently held a kickoff call for contributing agencies to review the work plan and schedule. Mayvue is working on an early release of BrM 7.0, which will be delivered to contributing agencies as cloud-hosted sites to enable them to begin transitioning to the next version of the software. These hosted sites will be updated frequently until the official 7.0 release is available.

The Task Force will host a series of calls for contributing agencies leading up to the official release. Agencies can use this time to provide input while development is progressing. The software will be delivered to agencies on schedule to ensure there is adequate time to implement, train internal staff, and hit the ground running to meet all NBIS needs.

To those that have already contributed to this important endeavor – We cannot thank you enough! Your contributions have ensured that this software will meet the new requirements as it is rewritten and will take full advantage of the opportunity to create a sustainable product for the next generation. To those who are still working internally to contribute – We know this is a process and thank you as well. If your agency has not contributed, there is still time to do so. Every contribution helps to make the product better. Please reach out to the Task Force, Mayvue, and/or Ryan Fragapane for more information about the benefits and process for contributing.

We are all excited about the result: A new version of the BrM software that meets the new NBIS rules and the ever-growing needs of transportation agencies.

BrM 6.7 Development Status

Mayvue recently surpassed the 75% development completion mark of the BrM 6.7 release and demonstrated the progress to the Testing TAG in early November. This release includes a Dashboard tool that enables agencies to set up, manage, and view a variety of visualizations within BrM. Additionally, the Ancillary Assets module will enable agencies to set up asset types and begin collecting inventory and inspection data for those assets.

Over the next two months, Mayvue will complete the development effort and transition into beta testing. In February 2023, Members of the Testing TAG will travel to Pittsburgh, PA to perform a hyper-focused beta testing session with Mayvue. The official release of BrM 6.7 will occur in March 2023. This release will be the last version 6 release of the software. The next official release will be on the new platform as BrM 7.0 in June 2024.

AASHTOWare Bridge Management Product Update

The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force product update is provided to keep all AASHTOWare Bridge Management (BrM) Software users apprised of recent activity related to the development of the software. The Task Force is committed to providing quarterly updates to help improve communication between the Task Force and those interested in the product.

AASHTOWare BrM Mobile Inspection powered by Mayvue

Member Departments and Associate Members wishing to use the AASHTOWare Bridge Mobile Inspection powered by Mayvue can license this application through AASHTO.

This application enables agencies to conduct inspections via Android and Apple phone or tablet devices remotely. It works offline and online to allow inspectors to collect inspection information without an internet connection. Please reach out to Mayvue or Ryan Fragapane for more information or to request a demonstration for your agency.

Reminder: BrM 6.6 is Available

BrM 6.6 was released to the user community in July 2022 and is available for download on the BrM ShareFile site. This release includes functionality requested by the user community, including:

• Funding by Project Allocation
• Critical Findings/Request for Action Module
• User Certification Module
• Multimedia Enhancements (various)
• Excel Projects Upload Enhancement
• BrM Mapping Widget

Please reach out to Mayvue if you need access to the installation files. If you are a cloud hosted agency, email Mayvue to request an upgrade and coordinate the timing.

2022 BrMUG

It was great to see the BrM user community in person again after two years of virtual meetings. We would like to thank all those who attended and presented this year. There was a heavy focus on the plans for BrM 7.0 and the next steps as well as interesting presentations from various States. We hope everyone felt well-informed and learned more about the software and the future direction. We noticed many good conversations spilled over into the hallways and the after-hour events. We look forward to continued excitement next year in Boise, ID (more information to come).

If you’re interested in reviewing any of the presentations from this year’s BRMUG, please visit the 2022 User Group Meeting page.

New BrMUG Officers

During the BrMUG, new officers were elected to lead this event for the coming years. We welcome the new volunteers:

• Ryan Cram, President (KYTC)
• Jack Legler, Secretary (ITD)
• Emily Bickley, VP of Inspections (SCDOT)
• Jacob Armour, VP of Modeling (MIDOT)
• Corey Cowden, VP of Projects (Caltrans)

We sincerely thank the previous BrMUG officers for their time, dedication, and commitment to the BrM software and user community.

The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force is pleased to announce the release of AASHTOWare Bridge Management (BrM) version 6.6. This release provides a wide range of prioritized enhancements and new functionalities to BrM agencies. Agencies now have access to log and track Critical Findings, enter and manage User Certifications, and inventory and inspect Sign assets, to name a few. The summary list of everything included in 6.6 can be found below.

What’s New in BrM 6.6

• Program Funding Allocation Enhancements – These enhancements allow agencies to subdivide by project category, providing agencies with more granular results from their optimizations. 
• Critical Findings Module – This module allows an agency to create and manage bridge-level Critical Findings, configure approval workflows for newly submitted Critical Findings, and report Critical Findings to configured FHWA contacts. In addition, agency administrators can view a dashboard of all Critical Findings, assign tasks (inspections, load ratings, etc.) to BrM users as part of resolving a Critical Finding, mark addressed Critical Findings as resolved, and create Work Candidates via Critical Finding Intermediate Actions. 
• User Certifications – This module allows an agency to create and manage agency-level Experience Types (such as Bridge Inspection Experience), Certifications (such as 130055 Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges), and Qualifications (such as Bridge Inspection Team Lead). Agencies can write SQL queries defining the combination of Experience Types and/or Certifications required for a given user to qualify for a Qualification, configure whether users may upload their own Experience Types and Certifications via the existing Profile page, and upload and manage user Experience Types and Certifications on user’s behalf via existing Admin > Security > Users task. In addition, agencies can review and approve user-submitted Certifications, configure email notifications for expiring Certifications, grant temporary Qualifications to users that have not submitted full documentation, and suspend existing Qualifications. 
• Signs Module – The Signs module allows an agency to manage their Signs inventory and inspections within BrM and provides a designated list view for Signs assets, as well as Inventory and Inspection tasks. Similar to the Tunnels module within BrM, the Signs module is part of the continued evolution of BrM into an asset management platform. The module will leverage many of the existing tools and features already built into BrM and will allow agencies to configure certain parts of the module to inventory and inspect assets (including elements) in accordance with their agency policies.
• Asset Element Condition Grid – The enhancements to the Asset Element Condition Grid control in Visual Form Editor provides support for existing ancillary asset types of Tunnel and Signs as well as any agency-created Ancillary Asset types.
• Multimedia Enhancements – Allows an agency to define Multimedia Sub-Category values and to map those values to existing Category values to more granularly define the Category and Sub-Category of a given Multimedia file.
• Additional Enhancements:
  • Mapping Widget – Added a Mapping Widget that can be added to any new or existing Visual Form Editor task.
  • ODBC Alternative – Added ADO as an available connection type on the Admin > Security > Databases task.
  • Enhanced Excel Output for LCCA Plans – Added the ability to include both the inputs and outputs in the Excel output for LCCA plans.
  • LCCA Plans Work Candidate Label – Modified the Actions list view in Create/Edit Plan to display if the added action was added as a work candidate.
  • Pyramid Navigation – Added the Admin > Modeling Config > Pyramid task as a visual representation of the tasks within BrM, in alignment with the training sessions/materials. This visual includes links to each task in the process.
• Various bug fixes and improvements (full list supplied with the release notes).

BrM 6.6 Release Video

The changes included in the latest release, AASHTOWare BrM 6.6, are also highlighted in this release video:

Download BrM 6.6 Now

AASHTOWare BrM 6.6 and supporting documentation are now available for download from ShareFile. 

• BrM6_Enterprise(64bit) – This is the install for BrM Enterprise if you have BrM installed.
• BrM6_Workstation – This is the install for BrM Workstation if you do not have BrM installed.
• BrM66_Updater – This is for those that already have BrM 6.x installed and want to upgrade to the latest version.

Please make sure to read the Release Notes and supporting documentation prior to installing BrM 6.6. Email brm@mayvue.com with any questions or concerns, or if there are any issues during the installation process.

Sincerely,
The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force

The AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force is eager to respond to the updated National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI). The AASHTOWare business model strives to keep the annual cost of the software as low as possible for all member agencies. However, at strategic times, AASHTO must pursue solicitations to be able to respond to major initiatives, such as changes in federal law or policy. This solicitation will ensure that the AASHTOWare Bridge Management (BrM) software maintains regulatory compliance, improves product functionality, and builds sustainability all in one effort. The Task Force requests that all member agencies contribute to this important initiative. Full participation in the solicitation will ensure that AASHTOWare will not only implement the new inspection requirements into BrM well in advance of Federal deadlines but also allow agencies to continue bridge management in the new format.

Timeline

Date	Summary
September 2022	States to notify AASHTO of intent to participate and contributing agencies are encouraged to submit work plan comments to the AASHTOWare Bridge Task Force.
October 2022	Solicitation work plan finalization, development of BrM 7.0 starts.
February 2023	BrM 6.7 release – Includes NBI Conversion upgrades, Dashboards, and Ancillary Assets (advancement to the multi-asset framework). The effort is already underway.
Spring 2023	BrM 7.0 (early) release – Available for contributing agencies on a Mayvue hosted environment. Focused on data collection, first version of the migration tool, and data validation. Agencies can adapt their reports, APIs, and business practices to the new requirements.
March 2024	BrM 7.0 release – Complete inspection overhaul including visual form editor (VFE) for custom forms, inspection types, QA/QC module, multimedia, etc.
January 2025	BrM 7.1 release – Updates to the Optimizer, Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA), and Analysis tools using the new data format, in preparation for the 2026 TAMP submittal!
March 2026	First NBI submittal reported to FHWA in SNBI format. Data can consist of mostly transitioned data that has not yet been collected using the SNBI or verified as conformant with the SNBI.

Transition Plan and Incentives

BrM will deliver a seamless transition to the new inspection and data standards. Agencies will be able to continue performing inspections and execute their management programs as planned. This approach allows an agency to transition to the new format on their timeline and well ahead of the FHWA deadlines. There will be early software-as-a-service (SaaS) releases to avoid multiple instance installations and IT-related delays until the BrM 7.1 release. The early release will also allow agencies to begin collecting data in SNBI format and satisfy the FHWA March 2028 milestone date. This will be particularly useful for bridges at extended inspection intervals.

Agencies that participate in the solicitation will receive key incentives: the ability to submit their comments to the work plan governing this effort, receiving early releases before official access to begin using the new standards for data collection, updated reports and API connections, and an early start to begin training inspectors and management staff. Furthermore, contributors will receive free cloud-hosting services during the transition to avoid IT complications and/or confusion associated with running two on-premises AASHTOWare Bridge Management instances. Additional benefits and incentives will be discussed during the upcoming BrM User Group meeting.

Contribution Options

Contributions to this solicitation are critical to the success of this transition and the long-term sustainability of the BrM software. $300,000 per member agency is strongly encouraged but greater or lesser amounts will be gladly accepted. Agencies can use existing service units from any AASHTOWare product or make contributions over multiple fiscal years if needed. Additionally, AASHTO has coordinated with the FHWA to allow contributors to use State Planning and Research (SP&R) funds at 100% Federal participation (0% State match) for this initiative if your agency permits. If you have any funding-related questions, please contact the AASHTOWare Bridge Project Manager (Ryan Fragapane, rfragapane@aashto.org).

Note: Funding in advance of the work plan can be committed to AASHTO via the FY2023 Member Software Request Form: Additional Enhancement Funding. All funding will be reserved to support the project solicitation.

Information related to this solicitation timeline, work plans, progress, funding, and more can be found at https://www.aashtowarebridge.com/bridge-management/solicitation/.