Ultrasonic seismic methods can be successfully used in condition assessment of bridge decks by evaluating changes in material characteristics and detection of development of defects and zones of deterioration. The impact echo method is of special benefit in evaluation of corrosion induced deck delamination, due to its nondestructive nature, speed of evaluation and ability to detect delaminated zones at various stages of deterioration: from initial to progressed and developed. The traditional approach in condition assessment of bridge decks by impact echo based on review of individual test point records, and a new automated approach based on three dimensional data visualization are presented. The developed three dimensional visualization platform allows both the advanced presentation and interpretation of impact echo data. The data presentation is provided in terms three dimensional translucent visualizations of reflectors in a bridge deck section, and horizontal and vertical cross sections through all distinctive zones, including a zone of delamination. The associated interpretation platform allows both the overall assessment of the condition of the deck, through cumulative distributions of reflection intensity of different reflective layers, and identification of deteriorated zones of the deck for repair or rehabilitation in an efficient and intuitive way. The condition assessment obtained through a traditional manual approach and the presented visualization platform provide very close results, confirm the ability of the later to provide equally accurate assessment of the condition of bridge decks.
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