Different integrity questions require different methods.

Determining asset condition begins with the question being asked. Inspection and NDE, corrosion assessment, risk-based inspection, fitness-for-service evaluation, materials and metallurgical analysis, and condition monitoring each provide different forms of evidence. The appropriate method depends on the asset, suspected degradation mechanism, operating environment, and the level of confidence required.

No method tells the whole story on its own. Results have to be understood within the capabilities and limitations of the technique, compared with operating and condition history, and interpreted by people with the appropriate technical competence. The objective is not simply to collect more inspection data, but to develop enough reliable evidence to understand condition and support the next integrity decision.