September 2024: AASHTOWare Bridge Management Newsletter

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

BrM 7.0: Development Update

BrM development remains on schedule, with a BrM 7.0 production release date of November 2024. Check out our newest YouTube video to review all the latest features.

The eighth and final walk-through for BrM 7.0 is scheduled for September 12, 2024. Following this walk-through and hosted development site deployment, the project will transition to working with a select few states to complete additional testing, including installation testing.

Many states have made strides with planning, thinking through the next steps for the eventual transition of their data and specific BrM 7.0 implementation. Please make sure you plan accordingly as work is required. The BrM Task Force and Mayvue are ready to discuss, assist, and/or help as needed. Reminder, Mayvue will be supplying a copy of the final database for those that have a BrM 7.0 hosted development site when the BrM 7.0 release is approved and ready for release.

If interested, or if you have specific questions about progress and/or the next steps regarding BrM 7.0, please contact the AASHTOWare Associate Product Manager (Ben Sade bsade@aashto.org), for access to the walk-through registration link or previous recorded sessions.

BrMUG is Just Weeks Away! 

Registration for the annual BrM User Group Meeting (BrMUG) is now open. The BrMUG will occur in Long Beach, CA, on September 17-18, 2024. Please registerhere.

BrMUG is a great way to learn about the software, vote on enhancement ideas, understand how states implement and use BrM, and learn how to get the most out of the software. This year will be extra exciting as BrM 7.0 will be heavily discussed along with engaging presentations from users and Mayvue. The full agenda is posted here.

Travel scholarships that come with BrM Supersite licenses are available, apply here.

Mayvue SNBI Collector

Mayvue’s SNBI Collector is a standalone tool that enables your agency to start collecting SNBI data today. The application is designed to work online and offline across all types of devices including phones, tablets, and desktops.

Mayvue’s SNBI Collector makes transitioning from the NBI to the SNBI per the new FHWA bridge regulations effortless. To start, simply upload your NBI data and the SNBI Collector will automatically transition the data to SNBI per the FHWA crosswalk. The interface color codes your data so you can review all data, ensuring a clean transition.

The data collected via Mayvue’s SNBI Collector syncs between other users within your agency and downloaded to your devices on demand.

For users of AASHTOWare’s Bridge Management (BrM) software, this is a great way to start SNBI inspections, while the next generation of BrM is being finalized and released.

Please reach out to support@mayvue.com for more information about the SNBI Collector, or place your order with AASHTO to get started today.

AASHTOWare OpenAPI

BrM 7.0 release will be connected to AASHTOWare OpenAPI, revolutionizing how data is shared between BrM and other applications, whether another AASHTOWare product, an AASHTOWare strategic partner, or non-accredited third-party software.

The goal is all data is pushed and/or pulled through AASHTOWare OpenAPI, which provides the framework of appropriate access, permissions, and validity checks, and standardizing how data is exchanged for all AASHTOWare products.

Agencies are strongly encouraged to begin planning for their integration needs when transitioning to BrM 7.0 and beyond. Agencies should recognize that integrations will need to be rebuilt regardless because BrM 7.0 has a new database. Therefore, AASHTOWare OpenAPI should be leveraged to complete these integrations. The Task Force and Mayvue are here to help agencies think through next steps, plan accordingly, and/or help complete the integration work if needed.

Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI) Errata #1

FHWA issued errata #1 to the SNBI in March 2024. Together, Mayvue and the Task Force have reviewed the errata and agreed upon necessary updates to BrM 7.0. These are in development now and are planned to be included in the final BrM 7.0 production release.

The Task Force is prepared to oversee and develop other changes necessitated by additional errata changes if/when they are released by FHWA.

BrM 7.0: Application Programming Interface (API) Update

The BrM Task Force and Mayvue have continued to refine details regarding the software’s next API since the last quarterly product update was issued. As previously announced, the BrM 7.0 software will include two distinct API features: integration with AASHTOWare Open API and API versioning.

The Task Force is currently seeking Special Committee on AASHTOWare (SCOA) approval to complete a third enhancement to the API: business validity checks. This enhancement will require that any data sourced from outside BrM adhere to specific standards, thereby ensuring data integrity.

The Task Force is planning for additional future enhancements of the BrM API while also balancing state needs, available budget, and BrM 7.0 delivery timing. More information about BrM’s API plans will continue to be communicated in future publications as additional API enhancements will be pursued for continual improvement of BrM data exchange.

Please reach out to support@mayvue.com for more information about the API if needed.

BrM Hosted-Only Solution (FY2029)

An AASHTOWare strategic initiative is to transition all software offerings to be a cloud-hosted solution. This is for many reasons including: improved product support, less installation and upgrade headaches, and a better overall user experience. It also aligns AASHTOWare with industry standards pertaining to how software is developed, released, provided, and supported.

The BrM Task Force has discussed this thoroughly and has decided that the transition to a BrM cloud-hosted-only solution will start in FY2029 (July 1, 2028). This gives states roughly four years to prepare for this change and hold required discussions before the switch. While this is a change to how BrM has been traditionally offered, many licensees have already transitioned to a cloud-hosting solution, and various other states are in the process. The Task Force is aware that this change will entail a cost increase. To assist with planning, advance notice of the estimated cost for this solution will be provided to licensing agencies in the coming months.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the AASHTOWare BrM Product Director (Ryan Fragapane rfragapane@aashto.org) to start a discussion.

The AASHTOWare Bridge Management Task Force
David Hedeen, Chair