The Smart Bridge of the Future

Abstract:

The concept that the civil engineering infrastructure may be streamlined through the use of Smart technology has been mooted for well over a decade. The thought is particularly appealing for large artifacts such as major buildings and bridges. The infrequent but extremely dramatic catastrophic failures particularly of major bridge structures inevitably reignite the debate. This paper endeavours to present a critique of the Smart Bridge both from a technical and socioeconomic perspective. Whilst the basic sensing technology is undoubtedly available there do remain significant areas for necessary improvement, notably in sensor location and damage identification. Additionally the link between the socioeconomic and political domains and the technologists has only recently attracted serious attention. The conclusion is that the tantalising prospect of the Smart Bridge whilst attractive, continues to need substantial technical development and a more effective interface into the economic and planning communities.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 55)
• Pages: 187-198
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.55.187
• Online since: September 2008
• Authors: B. Culshaw
• Keywords: Civil Infrastructure, Highway Bridge, Sensor Technologies, Smart Structure, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

References

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