Monitoring data of the openLAB research bridge – Part 1: Reference condition

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is emerging as an essential tool for ensuring the safety and longevity of an aging bridge infrastructure. Recent collapses, such as the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy (2018), and the Carola Bridge in Dresden, Germany (2024), emphasize the urgent need for reliable methods to detect early signs of structural deterioration to prevent catastrophic failures. However, the availability of real-world data for developing and particularly validating these methods remains limited. To address this gap, a 45-m-long prestressed concrete (PC) bridge - the openLAB bridge - has been built as part of the IDA-KI research project, designed to simulate common structural deficiencies as well as sensor faults. The bridge is equipped with a comprehensive SHM system, including fiber optic and electrical sensors, to continuously monitor its behavior. This dataset provides researchers with a unique opportunity to improve damage detection models, validate SHM methods, and ultimately enhance infrastructure safety. This first publication includes data from the undamaged bridge, covering the first nine months from February 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024, under monthly simulated traffic loads. It features measurements from the electrical monitoring system, including acceleration, tilt, air temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. After a one-year reference phase, the bridge will undergo controlled damaging load tests. The dataset will be periodically updated, providing insights into both undamaged and damaged states.