This paper describes the challenges associated with the application of non‐destructive evaluation techniques to the civil engineering infrastructure. Significant inspection tasks and structural defect types are first defined. Theoretical bases and experimental requirements of several current NDE techniques are then described, where case studies of application of the described techniques to specific structures are highlighted. Limitations of the current technology in achieving the inspection goals are identified. Finally, discussion about future directions of civil structure NDE, in terms of newly developed and promising NDE techniques, is presented. © 2004 American Institute of Physics