Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance
Fiber optic bridge monitoring and bridge surveillance

Bridge monitoring

Bridge monitoring with fiber optic sensors

Fiber optic bridge monitoring enables the continuous monitoring of bridges and other engineering structures. An optical fiber installed along the structure serves as a distributed sensor, detecting structural changes over long distances.

Depending on the measurement method used, parameters such as strain, temperature, vibrations, and dynamic loads can be recorded and spatially localized. Fiber optic bridge monitoring thus complements traditional structural inspections with continuous, data-driven condition monitoring.

Smart Corridor: "Continuous fiber optic infrastructure monitoring for highways or railways – from bridges to tunnels and embankments to traffic monitoring on entire sections of track."

Submit a request for bridge monitoring

Are you planning to monitor a bridge or other engineering structure? We can help you select and design a suitable fiber optic monitoring solution tailored to your project.

Please provide us with as much information as possible about the structure, its dimensions, the desired measurement parameter, the monitoring period, and the objective . Based on this information, we will examine a suitable technical solution.


Send an enquiry

 

Typical applications in bridge monitoring

Fiber optic measuring systems are suitable, for example, for:

  • road bridges

  • motorway bridges

  • railway bridges

  • Pedestrian and cycle bridges

  • Prestressed concrete and reinforced concrete bridges

  • steel bridges

  • Composite bridges

  • older existing buildings

  • Bridges in need of repair or damaged

  • temporary monitoring during construction and renovation work

Measurable quantities in bridge monitoring

Depending on the sensor technology used, bridge monitoring can detect different physical quantities.

Stretching and deformation
Changes in mechanical stress can be continuously recorded along defined areas of the bridge structure.

Vibrations and dynamic loads
Traffic, construction site operations or other mechanical influences cause characteristic vibrations that can be detected and evaluated using fiber optic sensors.

temperature
Temperature profiles and thermally induced expansions can be measured continuously over longer distances.

Long-term changes
Through repeated or permanent measurements, trends can be identified and noticeable changes over time can be documented.

Advantages of fiber optic building monitoring

  • Continuous bridge monitoring over large areas

  • high spatial measurement coverage

  • precise localization of conspicuous areas

  • Measurement along a single sensor fiber

  • passive sensors without electrical supply along the measuring path

  • insensitive to electromagnetic interference

  • Suitable for temporary and permanent installations

  • Long-term recording and trend analysis

  • Combination of different measured variables possible

  • Integration into existing monitoring and control systems is possible

Continuous bridge monitoring instead of individual measuring points

Conventional sensors typically only measure at selected points. In contrast, distributed fiber optic measurement technology uses the optical fiber itself as the sensor over long distances.

This allows for significantly more comprehensive monitoring of a bridge structure. Changes can not only be detected, but also spatially located along the measurement path.

Temporary bridge monitoring

A temporary measuring system is particularly suitable for:

  • Stress tests

  • Investigation of conspicuous buildings

  • Monitoring during renovation and construction work

  • Investigation of unusual vibrations

  • Measurement campaigns for condition assessment

Permanent structural monitoring

In a permanent installation, relevant measurements are continuously recorded. This allows long-term changes to the structure to be tracked and unusual readings to be detected early.

Defined limit values can be linked to automated notifications or alarm functions. The specific evaluation of the measurement data is carried out on a project-specific basis, taking into account the respective design, load situation, and monitoring objectives.


Supplement to the classic bridge inspection

Fiber optic bridge monitoring does not fundamentally replace the prescribed visual or technical structural inspections. However, it can usefully complement them by continuously monitoring the condition of a bridge even between individual inspection intervals .

Especially in the case of critical, heavily stressed or already conspicuous structures, additional measurement data can enable a more informed assessment of the structural development.

"In AI-supported monitoring, sensors continuously record the vibrations and strains of a bridge. This makes it possible to see how the structure behaves under changing loads and weather conditions." Source: Autobahn GmbH

DD-FBS