Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, Division Engineering of Adaptive SystemsMany bridges and highways in Germany have seen better days. At the same time, it is often too expensive or technically complex to conduct regular and widespread monitoring of their condition. With this in mind, researchers are working on new, cost-effective solutions for detecting damage earlier and operating infrastructure more safely in the long term.
The partial collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden in September 2024 raised questions about the condition of many structures in Germany. Thousands of highway bridges and large swathes of the rail network are seen as being in need of rehabilitation work, and continual monitoring has rarely been implemented so far – primarily because of the high costs associated with traditional monitoring systems
Researchers from the Engineering of Adaptive Systems Division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are therefore developing a cost-effective alternative: In the future, bridges and other structures are to be monitored by radar sensors from the automotive sector, such as those used in driver-assistance systems. Mass producing these sensors can significantly reduce the costs.
For this “structural health monitoring,” the sensors are adapted and combined with other measuring procedures. Relevant measurement concepts are already being tested in a living lab on a research bridge at TU Dresden. The sensors can detect even the smallest movements and vibrations, providing an early indication of possible damage.
This research aims to monitor structures more efficiently in the future, to plan rehabilitation work better, and to improve the safety of infrastructure in the long term.