Bridge Element Data Collection and Use
Initial efforts to define and collect bridge element data in the United States started in the late 1990s with
the development and implementation of bridge management systems (BMSs). Over the years, the bridge
management community provided feedback and made suggestions to improve the bridge element
inspection methodology.
The TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program's
NCHRP Synthesis 585: Bridge Element Data Collection and Use
documents current state departments of transportation (DOTs) practices and experiences
regarding collecting element-level data and ensuring data accuracy. The synthesis also examines how
state DOTs are using the data from inspection reports.
This Summary Last Modified On: 9/9/2022