BRIDGE INSPECTION DATA PROCESSING

Computer applications can enhance all aspects of infrastructure management. Here, field inspection of a bridge will be supplemented by expert-system software to help determine whether levels of metal fatigue require special attention. Such systems effectively make available to the field inspector a much broader range of experience than any one person is likely to accumulate in his or her career. Research can yield better methods far characterizing system behavior, monitoring system condition, and anticipating and responding to threats to overall performance. (Photo courtesy of ATLSS, Lehigh University)