LoadPath PDH — PE/NICET supplemental PDH (not FHWA/NBIS refresher training).

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InspectionOnline self-study

Bridge Inspection Reports and Documentation QC

1 PDH · about 60 minutes · Course no. BR-I10 · Instructor: Michael Craig, PE

About the instructor

Michael Craig, PE is Senior Vice President and Southeast Director at Strinteg Corporation, leading bridge inspection and structural engineering across eight states and Puerto Rico. In 27+ years he has inspected over 4,000 structures and completed 3,000+ load ratings and 160+ load tests. He has managed repair and preservation design for complex bridges, including cable-stayed bridges. He holds PE licenses in twelve states, DC and Puerto Rico, SPRAT Level 1, and FAA Part 107 credentials.

An inspection is only as useful as its report. This course covers writing condition narratives, photos and sketches that drive correct engineering decisions, and the QC/QA expectations under the NBIS.

⬇ Download study guide (PDF)

Learning objectives

  • Write clear, defensible condition narratives
  • Use photos and sketches effectively
  • Apply QC/QA review to reports
  • Avoid documentation errors that mislead owners

Outline

  1. What the report must do
  2. Writing condition narratives
  3. Photos and sketches
  4. Recommendations and maintenance items
  5. QC and QA
  6. Part A — Why the report is the product
  7. Part B — The regulatory frame for documentation
  8. Part C — Anatomy of a complete inspection report
  9. Part D — Writing condition narratives
  10. Part E — Photographs that work
  11. Part F — Sketches, maps and measurements
  12. Part G — Ratings and element data that agree with the narrative
  13. Part H — Recommendations that get acted on
  14. Part I — Critical findings in the report
  15. Part J — Quality control and quality assurance of reports
  16. Part K — Documentation errors that mislead owners
  17. Part L — Defensibility and professional responsibility
  18. Part M — Digital tools and data management
  19. Part N — Worked review examples
  20. Part N2 — Documenting different inspection types
  21. Part N3 — Building a report template that helps
  22. Part N4 — How report data drive intervals and programs
  23. Part N5 — Training and calibrating report writers
  24. Part N6 — Communicating report results to managers
  25. Part N7 — A field-to-report routine for team leaders
  26. Part O — Writing style for technical readers
  27. Part P — A workflow for reviewing consultant reports
  28. Part Q — Frequently asked questions
  29. Part R — Summary checklist and glossary
  30. Open the course (35 screens, 2 knowledge checks)
  31. Final quiz — 10 questions, 70% to pass

References

  1. 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C — National Bridge Inspection Standards (final rule published May 6, 2022)
  2. FHWA, Bridge Inspector's Reference Manual (BIRM), FHWA-NHI-12-049, 2012 (as revised)
  3. AASHTO, Manual for Bridge Element Inspection, 2nd Edition, 2019
  4. FHWA, Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI), FHWA-HIF-22-017, March 2022
  5. AASHTO, The Manual for Bridge Evaluation, 3rd Edition, 2018 (with interim revisions)