Topic outline

  • FHWA Bridge Inspector's Manual - Section 11.1-2: Inspection & Evaluation of Waterways

    Credits: 5 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 11.1, Waterway Elements, and Section 11.2, Inspection of Waterways. The course identifies various properties of waterways that can affect bridges including streambed material, hydraulic forces, changes in waterway channel, and flow disturbance caused by the bridge substructure. The concepts of hydraulic opening and hydraulic control structures are introduced. The types and causes of scour are extensively discussed, and inspection procedures to detect scour are presented.

    Topics:

    This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
    • Waterway elements
    • Waterway performance factors
    • Waterway deficiencies and their effects
    • Preparation for waterways inspections
    • Inspection procedures and locations

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


    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)

    • Topic 1