The Guide Manual for Bridge Element Inspection builds on the element-level condition assessment methods developed in the AASHTO Guide for Commonly Recognized Structural Elements, which it replaces. Improvements have been made to fully capture the condition of the elements by reconfiguring the element language to utilize multiple distress paths within the defined condition states. The multi-path distress language provides the means to fully incorporate all possible defects within the overall condition assessment of the element. The overall condition of an element can be utilized in this aggregate form, or broken down into specific defects present as desired by the agency for Bridge Management System (BMS) use. The Bridge Element Inspection Manual provides a comprehensive set of bridge elements that is designed to be flexible in nature to satisfy the needs of all agencies. The complete set of elements capture the components necessary for an agency to manage all aspects of the bridge inventory utilizing the full capability of a BMS -- Publisher's website.

"Designed for use by state departments of transportation and other agencies that perform element-level bridge inspections, this manual is a reference for standardized element definitions, element quantity calculations, condition state definitions, element feasible actions, and inspection conventions. Its goal is to capture the condition of bridges in a simple, effective way that can be standardized nationwide, while providing enough flexibility to be adapted to both large- and small-agency settings. The information contained in this manual supersedes the AASHTO Guide to Commonly Recognized Structural Elements, 1st Edition and the AASHTO Guide Manual for Bridge Element Inspection, 1st Edition."-- Publisher's website.

"This 2015 interim revision contains updated information to the Manual for Bridge Element Inspection, 1st Edition. It is necessary to have this interim to have all current specification information."-- Publisher's website.