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Scuba picture provided by John Loftus of Marine Solutions (a KYTC contractor)
by Erin Van Zee
SCUBA and surface supplied air commercial diving are one of the most important skill sets in bridge inspection. Around 85% of bridges in Kentucky are over water, and the most important thing that bridge inspectors look for under the water is if the substructure’s structural capacity has been compromised. 60% of all bridges fail due to an erosive force called "scour." Because of this, all bridges over water must be inspected for scour.
But what happens when the water is too deep or too swift to wade? Underwater bridge inspector divers must be called in to inspect the substructure.
The divers use methods such as SCUBA, surface supplied air commercial diving, sonar scanning, and hydrographic surveys to feel and look around all substructure units to make sure they are safe.
The divers scan the underwater portions of the structures to check for any erosion or issues that need to be checked or fixed. They use technologies such as sonar, Hydrographic Surveys, Volumetric Multibeam (Coda), Viewing software (iView4D) and other tools that enable inspectors to see more than what we can see with our eyes alone. |
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Scuba picture provided by John Loftus of Marine Solutions (a KYTC contractor)
 75 Years of Civil Engineering Scholarships
June 2023 marks the 75th year of the Transportation Cabinet’s Civil Engineering Scholarship Program. The program has been the primary pipeline for the cabinet’s engineers for many years and has undergone several changes since its inception in 1948. Click here to learn more about the history and growth of this important program that has withstood the test of time. Former scholarship recipients are invited to a celebration on June 29th in Frankfort.
From bridges to roads in small towns to big cities, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet keeps Kentucky moving. We offer a range of careers opportunities in the STEM field like bridge engineers, biologists, and drone pilots.
Interested in learning more about what engineers do at the Transportation Cabinet?
Students are invited to join us for an informational all-day session to learn what goes into planning, designing, building, and maintaining Kentucky’s roads and bridges.
July 26 9:00 am to 3:30 pm EST Transportation Cabinet Office Bldg 200 Mero St Frankfort, KY 40622
RSVP to Ramona.Brock@ky.gov by June 2 Seats are limited so don’t delay in responding!
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