An Expert System for Evaluating

Scour is the erosion of bed and bank material by flowing water; scour poses a threat to bridge security by undermining piers and abutments over time. In fact, “the most common cause of bridge failures is floods with the scouring of bridge foundations being the most common cause of flood damage” (Richardson et al., 1993). While regular inspections and maintenance reduce the risk of a scourrelated failure, identification of conditions indicative of scour can be difficult. Good field judgments require significant practical experience as well as formal training. This paper describes an expert system that aids bridge inspectors with the scour portion of regular bridge inspections; this system results in more consistent and accurate recommendations, and provides the inspector with information on scour processes. In addition, the system functions as a screening tool to identify the severity of scour and stream stability problems at a wide variety of sites. This paper discusses the scour inspection process and the benefits of applying an expert system. Elements of the system development addressed in this paper include the scour inspection process, objectives and approach, system variables and recommendations, and initial testing. Proposed future refinements and modifications are also discussed.