XML-Based Inspection Modeling for Developing Field Inspection Support Systems

Inspection activities such as bridge inspection generally rely on using paper-based forms for documenting the inspection results. However, recent advances in computer technology, where the hardware is getting smaller in size yet more powerful, allow computer systems to be used in the field to help inspectors collect inspection information. To provide useful and practical computing support for inspectors in performing inspection activities in the field, a computer system for supporting these inspectors has to be designed and customized to recognize the specific inspection tasks being performed and the physical and knowledge-based contexts of the inspection. Unfortunately, the development of field inspection support systems is both difficult and time consuming, since this process suffers from a lack of generality. Effort is currently wasted when implementing different applications for supporting different field workers that still share some common aspects. This paper first discusses the use of eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to model inspection information useful in the development of inspection support systems and then discusses how the model can be used by the Java Inspection Framework (JIF) to automatically create an inspection application. XML in concert with JIF reduces the effort required to create an inspection application because the application can be developed without requiring the application developer to create a single line of Java code.