Uncertainty in Building Inspection and Diagnosis: A Probabilistic Model Quantification

Abstract

In the field of building inspection and diagnosis, uncertainty is common and surveyors are aware of it, although it is not easily measured. This research proposes a model to quantify uncertainty based on the inspection of rendered façades. A Bayesian network is developed, considering three levels of variables: characteristics of the building, façade and exposure conditions; causes of defects; and defects. To compute conditional probabilities, the results of an inspection campaign from the literature are used. Then, the proposed model is validated and verified using inspection results from another sample, the combination of a strength-of-influence diagram and sensitivity analysis and the application of the model to a case study. Results show that the probabilities computed by the model are a reasonable representation of the hesitancy in decision making during the diagnosis process based only on visual observation. For instance, design and execution errors show lower probabilities due to not being verifiable a posteriori without detailed documentation. The proposed model may be extended and replicated for other building materials in the future, as it may be a useful tool to improve the perception of uncertainty in a key stage of building maintenance or rehabilitation.

Determining Factors of Fixed Offshore Platform Inspections in Indonesia

“…With the increasing age of a fixed offshore platform its structure's condition will experience physical degradation and some damage. One of the processes that cause a building to become obsolete, fail to meet some performance requirements, and ultimately cause the building or its elements to reach the end of their lives, is called physical deterioration [4]. For a fixed offshore platform to continue its service or extend its operation, the condition of the integrity of current fixed offshore platform constructions needs to be inspected, such that if there is damage to constructions then repairs can be made immediately.…”

Degradation Model Applied to the Plasterwork of the Palace of Pedro I (Royal Alcazar of Seville)

“…In the last decades, different models have been developed for the prediction of the service life of building components. These durability models can be used as a decision support tool, establishing a degradation rating among different building components, which allows for a defining of maintenance priorities, thus optimizing the use of funds and resources [20][21][22]. Alternative methods for quantifying the damage of cultural heritage and prioritizing interventions are multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM), among which two stochastic methods of proven reliability stand out: the Delphi method and the Hierarchical Analysis Process (HAP) [23].…”