The College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad witnessed the public defense of the Master’s student Khattab Omar Adel Al-Rawi from the Civil Engineering Department / Construction Project Management specialization, regarding his thesis titled:
“A Proposed System to Improve Bridges Inspection Process in Iraq.”
The discussion took place on Wednesday, 11/2/2026, at Prof. Dr. Khalid Shaker Hall in the Department of Civil Engineering, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Meervat Razzaq Wali Altaie.
The discussion committee consisted of:
- Prof. Dr. Abbas Mohammed Burhan, University of Baghdad – College of Engineering, Chairman.
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Teghreed Hassan Ibrahim, University of Baghdad – College of Engineering, Member.
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Afrah Mohammed Hassan Mousa, University of Technology – College of Civil Engineering, Member.
- Prof. Dr. Meervat Razzaq Wali Altaie, University of Baghdad – College of Engineering, Supervisor.
The thesis addressed the challenges facing current bridge inspection practices in Iraq, particularly in the city of Baghdad. It aimed to develop an integrated framework for the bridge inspection process, beginning with a systematic methodology for numbering and classifying bridge components and culminating in the development of a web-based digital system for managing bridge inspections.
This system seeks to identify current deficiencies, meet operational requirements, and overcome weaknesses in traditional inspection planning and documentation. It also enables the automated generation of technical inspection reports to support engineering decision-making and improve the efficiency, accuracy, and quality of documenting inspection processes while reducing the time and effort required.
Based on the research findings, a set of recommendations was proposed, including:
- Establishing a national operations room to manage and coordinate bridge inspections across Iraq, involving all relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works, Baghdad Municipality, Roads and Bridges Directorates in the governorates, security and traffic authorities, and maintenance and emergency teams. This initiative aims to standardize inspection procedures, coordinate traffic management during inspections, centralize data management, respond quickly to emergencies, and prevent duplication of efforts.
- Adopting the proposed three levels of inspection and circulating them to all concerned authorities to ensure clear and unified inspection standards.
- Standardizing the numbering system for bridges and their components according to the framework developed in this research, facilitating data archiving and tracking the condition of each structural element.
- Providing periodic training and qualification for inspection teams on modern techniques for visual and detailed inspections and on the proper use of inspection equipment.
- Continuously updating the bridge database to reflect changes resulting from maintenance, expansion, or repair of damages.
After the scientific discussion by the committee members, listening to the researcher’s defense, and evaluating the thesis, the researcher was awarded a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a grade of Excellent.
