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FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 11.3—Underwater Inspection

Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired


Course Outline

This three-hour online course discusses the equipment, training, safety, and regulatory requirements of commercial diving—both self-contained (SCUBA) and surface-supplied (air)—as it relates to bridge inspections.  Investigations of underwater bridge elements such as substructure units are also discussed, and various sounding devices for detecting scour are described.

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 characteristics of underwater inspections as they are used for bridges and will be able to apply this knowledge in bridge inspections.

Course Introduction

The need for underwater inspections is great. Approximately 86 percent of the bridges in the National Bridge Inventory are built over waterways, and most bridge failures occur because of underwater problems .Underwater members must be inspected to the extent necessary to determine with certainty that their condition has not compromised the structural safety of the bridge .Several bridge collapses during the 1980’s, traceable to underwater deficiencies, have led to revisions in the National Bridge Inspection Standards. As a result, bridge owners have been mandated to develop a master list of bridges requiring underwater inspections. In general, the term "underwater inspection" is taken to mean a hands-on inspection requiring underwater breathing apparatus and related diving equipment. The expense of such inspections necessitates careful consideration of candidate bridges.

Course Content

This course is based on BIRM’s Section 11.3 (Underwater Inspection) 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 11.3—Underwater Inspection

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Course Summary

The characteristics of underwater inspections as they pertain to bridges are described in a manner useful for conducting inspection of bridges.

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.