FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 3—Fundamentals of Bridge Inspections - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

FHWA Bridge Inspector’s Manual Section 3—Fundamentals of Bridge Inspections

Course Outline

This six-hour online course discusses the various types of bridge inspection and necessary steps for preparing for and actually performing the inspection are described. Safety and traffic control procedures are discussed, as are standard tools needed for cleaning, observing, and documenting the condition of bridge elements. The various types of equipment available to provide access to bridge components 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:

Be familiar with duties of the bridge inspection team;
Know how to plan, prepare, and perform the inspection;
Know how to prepare the inspection report;
Know how to identify items for repair and maintenance;
Be familiar with key concerns for bridge inspection safety;
Be familiar with safety responsibilities;
Know principles of personal protection;
Be familiar with causes of accidents;
Understand safety precautions;
Know the philosophy and fundamental principles of traffic control;
Be familiar with inspector safety practices in traffic control;
Know principles of public safety applied to traffic control;
Be familiar with the necessity of using appropriate equipment;
Be familiar with special equipment sometimes required;
Be familiar with recent developments in equipment;
Understand primary safety concerns related to the use of equipment;
Know types of access equipment and vehicles;
Be cognizant of methods of access;
Understand how to achieve cost efficiency in using expensive access equipment; and
Be familiar with safety considerations in using access equipment and vehicles.

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 fundamental principles that should be followed in a well-planned bridge inspection and will be able to apply this knowledge.

Course Introduction

Bridge inspection is playing an increasingly important role in providing a safe infrastructure for the nation. As the nation’s bridges continue to age and deteriorate, an accurate and thorough assessment of each bridge’s condition is critical in maintaining a dependable highway system. There are five basic types of inspection:initial (inventory), routine (periodic), damage, in-depth, and special (interim).

Course Content

This course is based on Section 3 (Fundamentals of Bridge 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 3—Fundamentals of Bridge Inspections

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Course Summary

The fundamentals of bridge inspection are described in a manner useful for persons learning how to inspect 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.