PRESENTATION TITLE:
Virtual Testbed Framework for Civil Infrastructure &
Geotechnical Applications

ABSTRACT:
This paper presents a preliminary framework for the creation of a
Virtual Testbed (VTB) for Civil Infrastructure and Geotechnical (CI&G)
Applications. The Virtual Testbed will increase the knowledge base of
Subsurface Sensing and Imaging (SSI) of CI&G materials and defects,
allow exploration of sensor fusion and the development of new sensors,
and improve signal processing methods for SSI for CI&G applications.

The Virtual Testbed (VTB) will include modules to model CI&G materials
and defects and simulate NDT modalities used in CI&G applications of
SSI. The modular design of the VTB will make it adaptable to other
subsurface sensing problems and additional NDT modalities. The
utilization of the virtual testbed will provide a knowledge base for
the subsurface sensing of CI&G systems that will result in an
understanding of the behavior of the system under different testing
conditions. The system model can be easily perturbed and the results
studied. As the knowledge base grows, combinations of modalities can
be proposed for potential fusion to obtain additional or redundant
information about the condition of the system. The modular design of
the VTB will provide opportunity for sensor developers to test
feasibility of new or fused sensors for CI&G
applications. Understanding the test results from perturbing the
system will help to determine rules for improved signal processing and
condition assessment.