Topic outline

  • Underwater Inspection and Evaluation of Bridge Structures: FHWA

    Credits: 3 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    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 Section 11.3, Underwater Inspection. The course introduces the equipment, training, safety, and regulatory requirements of commercial diving-both self-contained (SCUBA) and surface-supplied (air)-as it relates to bridge inspections. Investigations of underwater bridge elements such as substructure units are mentioned, and various sounding devices for detecting scour are described.

    Topics:

    This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
    • Methods of underwater inspection
    • Diving inspection intensity levels
    • Types of inspection
    • Qualifications of diver-inspectors
    • Planning an underwater inspection
    • Inspecting substructure elements
    • Scour investigations
    • Underwater inspection equipment
    • Dealing with current, drift, and debris

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course:


    (must be logged into your user account)

    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: 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.
    Publication Source: US DOT (Federal Highway Administration)


    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)

    • Topic 1