Risk-based construction inspection and quality management model for transportation and highway infrastructure projects

Construction inspection is found to be very useful in maintaining the quality of transportation and highway construction projects. Traditional inspection practices are generally based on fixed inspection intervals and regular inspection techniques, which may not be sufficient to handle construction activities with high risk of quality defects. Limited inspection resources and poor quality inspection systems are also contributing to the poor performance of traditional inspection practices. This study proposes a risk-based construction inspection and quality management model for transportation and highway infrastructure projects. The framework integrates risk identification, multi-criteria risk assessment using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP), inspection prioritization through a Risk Priority Index (RPI), and construction quality evaluation using a Quality Performance Index (QPI). Construction quality risks are categorized into material, construction process, environmental, and management factors, and their relative importance is evaluated through expert assessment. The results indicate that construction process risks and material variability represent the most significant contributors to highway construction quality deficiencies. The suggested risk-based inspection model utilizes inspection resources depending on the calculated risk level for efficient inspection of high-risk construction activities. The framework supports earlier detection of construction defects and improved quality performance compared with conventional inspection systems. This study provides a structured approach for integrating risk assessment, inspection planning, and quality evaluation in highway infrastructure construction management.