Comparison of Bridge Inspection Policies in terms of Data Quality

Periodic and exceptional inspections provide information about the condition of bridges to support decisions on maintenance or repair activities needed to counteract defects and damages efficiently. Inspections are carried out on a regular basis or after special events. In different states, diverse approaches to visual inspections have been developed to support bridge integrity management. In the literature, several comparative studies have been published on inspection procedures; however, most of them compare a very limited number of countries due to a lack of information or language barriers. In this paper, the inspection practices adopted in several countries and regions worldwide are critically examined through a comprehensive survey of the available standards, guidelines, and best practices. The novel contribution of this paper concerns the application of a new method to classify and assess different bridge inspection procedures. This is achieved through the definition of indicators relating to different aspects of the quality of data collected during the inspections.