Infrastructure surface inspection and condition rating systems used today range from detailed automated inspections that use photographic and laser technologies to manual inspection that uses the human eye. The capability of these systems in measuring distressed areas varies because of several factors, including the principle of measurement, type of inspection strategy, manner of data reduction, and objectivity of data collection. The characteristics of the objects being measured and the surroundings in which they are inspected also affect the results. The types of errors affecting inspection results are presented, as is a set of hypotheses derived from theoretical expectations of the effect of the mentioned factors on the accuracy of inspection systems. These hypotheses are tested using data from state-of-the-art inspection systems. The conclusions are useful for designing, improving, and choosing systems and for adjusting inspection results for improved accuracy. (A)
Abstract