Investigating Consistency Among Bridge Inspectors Using Simulated Virtual Reality Testbed

The current condition of US infrastructure requires a data-driven, risk-based approach to asset management. In the case of bridges, inspectors in every state visit these structures and collect data, and based on the information they report, state departments evaluate bridge conditions, predict deterioration, and make repair and retrofit decisions. However, the capacity of inspectors for defect detection might vary due to several factors, such as the inspectors’ experience or eyesight, which results in differences when reporting their results. Through the development of a virtual reality (VR)-based testbed, the variability among inspectors in examination and documentation practices in steel and concrete bridges in Indiana will be measured and analyzed. As a result, training programs could be enhanced according to the outcome analyses of the VR system