Digitalization and Monitoring of Steel and Composite Bridges in Aging Infrastructure

The preservation of existing bridges poses significant challenges for infrastructure operators. Digitalization and monitoring are crucial for long-term inspection and repair, enhancing service life. Sensor-based monitoring and condition assessment, integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM), streamline these processes. While monitoring solutions exist for concrete bridges, comparable developments are limited for steel and composite bridges. Research projects InÜDosS and BIM-LeB aim to develop a comprehensive monitoring approach using multimodal sensors. This involves creating digital representations of older structures for BIM and structural analysis, enabling regular condition assessments. Various measuring systems detect changes, with data integrated into a central BIM model to optimize repairs and extend bridge longevity. The projects utilize 3D measurement techniques and AI algorithms for damage assessment, aiming for predictive maintenance through sensor data evaluation and structural simulations.