The Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual (BIRM) is a comprehensive manual on programs, procedures, and techniques for inspecting and evaluating a variety of in-service highway bridges.  BIRM serves as the basis of a comprehensive National Highway Institute training program in bridge-safety inspection. The present course is based on BIRM’s Chapter 4, Bridge Inspection Reporting, and discusses:

1. structure inventory
2. condition and appraisal
3. record keeping and appraisal
4. the inspection report
5. AASTO commonly recognized (CoRe) elements.

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. This course is based on BIRM’s Chapter 4 (Bridge Inspection Reporting) of the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual, Publication No. FHWA NHI 12-049, December, 2012.

Learning Objectives

At the successful conclusion of this course, you’ll be able to identify and discuss:

• Be familiar with the FHWA structure inventory, appraisal, and condition ratings;
• Be familiar with overall culvert ratings;
• Understand the concepts of functionally obsolete and structurally deficient;
• Be cognizant of the concept of sufficiency rating;
• Be familiar with general items in the bridge record;
• Be familiar with appropriate inspection documentation;
• Know the basic components of a comprehensive bridge inspection report; and
• Be familiar with the terminology, requirements and identification of AASHTO Commonly Recognized (CoRe) Elements.