Monitoring steel bridges

Steel bridges are prone to accelerated degradation due to aging and fatigue under increased service loads. Effective asset management of steel bridges often faces challenges related to insufficient knowledge and uncertainty regarding asset condition, leading to unexpected downtime and high inspection costs.

UniQ is designed to monitor various types of fatigue damage, including deck-plate cracks and cracks at the intersections of stiffeners with the deck plate and cross-beams. The system can accurately identify the location and growth rate of all active cracks within the monitoring area. Each UniQ can cover more than 50 m² of deck area in typical steel bridges. Importantly, the installation and operation of UniQ do not interfere with the normal functioning of the bridge.

In addition to standardized digital reports, the monitoring system's output can also be visualized in a 4D digital twin model, accessible via computer screens and/or a Virtual Reality (VR) headset, providing an immersive experience for asset managers.