Computational aspects of risk-based inspection planning

The significant computational efforts required to compute risk-based inspection plans founded on the Bayesian decision theory has hindered their application in the past. In this article, a computationally efficient method for the calculation of risk-based inspection (RBI) plans is presented, which overcomes the problem through the use of a generic approach. After an introduction in RBI planning, focus is set on the computational aspects of the methodology. The derivation of inspection plans through interpolation in databases with predefined generic inspection plans is demonstrated and the accuracy of the methodology is investigated. Finally, an overview is given on some recent applications of the generic approach in practice, including the implementation in efficient software tools.