Development of interactive support system for visual inspection of bridges

A prototype of an interactive support system for visual inspection of bridges has been developed. The aims of this system are to complement a technical knowledge of skilled inspectors and to suggest several alternatives concerned with decision-making to inspectors who are carrying out their tasks on a bridge site. A client/server architecture has been adopted in order to reduce the client-terminals' load, to compute at high speed, and to store and centralize a great amount of information on bridge inspection. Open- source software packages were installed in the server and a Web application tied-up with a database system containing past records of bridge visual inspections and technical information on bridge inspection was constructed. By using a wearable computer and a mobile communication device, a hands-free operation and a seamless communication between the client and the server are implemented so that the system will not spoil the performance of an inspector. Regarding the support information, the system can offer the possible causes of defects which an inspector finds during the inspection and the criteria of fatal defects which need urgent measures.