Bridge inspection implementations and maintenance planning – A comparative analysis of a few distinctive countries

Abstract

This study provides a critical comparative analysis of bridge inspection and maintenance strategies employed in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and the United States. Bridge networks are influential in the transportation system and economic development. Bridge structures steadily subjected to undergo a deterioration process from the construction time to commissioning. A bridge inspection and maintenance strategy are required to keep the bridge structures in the peak performance and safe condition during their operation time. As developed countries, Japan and U.S. have formerly experienced the deterioration of bridge structures due to aging. Thus, both have thoroughly developed bridge inspection manuals and maintenance strategies for bridge management system purpose. On the other hands, Thailand and Indonesia are still expanding and seeking the most optimum bridge inspection and maintenance regulation. Updating the inspection manuals are necessary to meet the needs of each country, particularly the developing countries. To reflect on this matter, the authors carried out this study to find and underline the potential bridge inspection practices by comparing bridge inspection implementation and maintenance strategies of the four countries (U.S., Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia). The study encloses inspection reference books, inspection plan human resources, inspection categories, and condition grading system. Ultimately, the official bridge network administrators from developing countries could adopt several practices for magnification to bridge inspection implementations and maintenance strategies.