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FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 1—Bridge Inspection Programs

Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired


Course Outline

This one-hour online course discusses the origin and current status of the National Bridge Inspection Program.  The responsibilities of the bridge inspector to maintain public safety and protect public investment are described, as are the need for quality control and quality assurance in designing and executing an inspection program.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended primarily for civil, construction, and structural engineers, and would be of particular interest to consulting engineers or to engineers serving in government organizations concerned with the safety of bridges.

Benefit to Attendees

An attendee of this course will be familiar with the duties and responsibilities, both legal and technical, of a bridge inspector, and will be familiar the recommended framework for a bridge inspection QC/QA program.

Course Introduction

In the years since the Federal Highway Administration's landmark publication, Bridge Inspector’s Training Manual 90 (Manual 90), bridge inspection and inventory programs of state and local governments have formed an important basis for formal bridge management programs. During the 1990’s, the state DOT’s implemented comprehensive bridge management systems, which rely heavily on accurate, consistent bridge inspection data.  The Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual updates Manual 90 and reflects over ten years of change.  This course introduces the reader to the historical roots of the National Bridge Inspection Program, the responsibilities borne by the bridge inspector and the frame work needed to implement a quality control and quality assurance in a bridge inspection program.

Course Content

This course is based on Section 1 (Bridge Inspection Programs) of the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual, Publication No. FHWA NHI 03-001, October, 2002, Revised December, 2006.

FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 1—Bridge Inspection Programs

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Course Summary

The history of the National Bridge Inspection Program, which developed over a period of over forty years in reaction to the failure of a number of bridges with an accompanying loss of life, is described.  The role and duties of the bridge inspector are listed, and the requirements for applying quality control and quality assurance to techniques are given.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bripro.htm

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.