At DYWIDAG, we specialise in bridge health monitoring as a central part of asset lifecycle management. We help bridge owners keep their structures operational and performing safely. As developers and integrators of bridge monitoring sensor systems, we build appropriate monitoring strategies, aligned to your structure, and turn data into actionable insight: where to inspect, when to intervene, and how to extend service life.
What we monitor
Cable & tendon force monitoring
Tension components are among the most critical load-carrying components in a bridge structure, and also often the most exposed: to fatigue, increasing live loads, corrosion, and environmental events.
We select the most appropriate monitoring method to suit the structure. Accelerometers can read force from the vibration, including traffic and wind, without interrupting operations. At the anchorage, DYNA Cell single strand load cells, and DYNA Force elasto-magnetic sensors, measure force directly, and are installed during construction, or during stressing operations. This service covers stay cables, external tendons, hangers and guy wires, either as a one-off measurement campaign, or as continuous monitoring across the service life.
- Cable force measured to accuracy of <+/-1%
- DYWIDAG's algorithms to interpret cable forces account for any dampers, ties and clamps, and other difficult boundary conditions, such as high bending stiffness
- DYWIDAG's accelerometers can be retrofitted to the duct, and/or, integrated directly into the stay
- DYWIDAG DYNA Cell measures direct force at the anchorage and has the advantage of being both inspectable and replaceable
- DYWIDAG DYNA Force is contactless, has no moving parts, and results in no change to the standard stressing procedure
- Applicable for stay cables, external tendons, hangers and guy wires
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Displacement monitoring
Thermal action, live load, creep, shrinkage and settlement, can all keep a bridge in continuous movement.
DYWIDAG provide a wide range of measurement solutions, from small scale strains with vibrating wire, gauges and fibre optics, through to large displacement, with draw wires, ultrasonic and laser sensors. We provide asset owners with an accurate picture for planning maintenance, and designers with in-service data, to check against their design assumptions.
- Displacement is correlated with temperature and traffic, so any abnormal behaviour stands out from normal thermal cycling
- Expansion joint gaps, and any displacement, are tracked against the design limits
- Bearing displacement and rotation, to detect restraint before damage
- Settlement and tilt at piers and abutments
- Crack opening and strain under real loads, including during load tests and repairs
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Vibration and seismic monitoring
Wind, traffic and seismic activity all excite a bridge dynamically. How the structure responds reflects its stiffness, damping and condition.
We install accelerometers and seismic accelerometers so the recorded response supports dynamic analysis, from modal identification to assessment against the design basis. In seismic regions, this gives owners early evidence for inspection priorities and reopening decisions after an event. Vibration data also serves as a trigger for impact and event detection, feeding directly into event based monitoring.
- Sensors on deck, pylons, cables, tendons, and foundations, all positioned relating to the monitoring system design
- Sampling rates and measurement ranges are selected specifically for the analysis in question
- Continuous recording of wind and traffic response over the bridge's service life
- Event-triggered recording of ground motion and structural response during earthquakes
- Data delivered ready for evaluation by the structural engineer
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Corrosion monitoring
Corrosion starts at specific critical bridge elements, where moisture, chlorides and loss of protection coincide, and it can progress unseen until section loss has occurred.
Effective corrosion monitoring therefore starts with knowing where to look. Drawing on decades of work with post-tensioning and stay-cable systems, we identify the elements where corrosion matters most for the structure's safety and service life, such as cable and tendon anchorages, and apply the sensors suited to each item. The local readings show when conditions become corrosive. Inspection and maintenance go where they are needed, instead of being spread across parts of the structure not susceptible to corrosion.
- Multi-hazard threat analysis at installation, or during inspection of an existing structure, defines where and what to measure
- Steel sections, connections and exposed reinforcement alongside anchorages
- Corrosion, humidity, moisture and temperature sensors suited to each location
- Threshold alerts trigger inspection of the affected element
- Long-term record of exposure conditions at each monitored element
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Environmental monitoring
With extreme weather becoming more frequent and more severe wind, temperatures, humidity, precipitation, seismic activity and extreme events, can increasingly affect how a bridge behaves.
Regional weather data rarely reflects conditions at the structure itself. We measure these actions on site and link them to the structural response. Normalising for environmental effects isolates the residual behaviour that indicates real structural change. DYWIDAG Predictive Environmental Modelling (PEM) takes this further, combining on-site data with regional forecasts to warn of high winds, icing and ice shedding, flooding or reduced visibility.
- Wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity, precipitation, condensation and visibility measured at the structure
- Temperature measured across girders, pylons and stay cable surfaces to capture thermal gradients
- Time-synchronised with structural sensors, for direct correlation of actions and response
- Normalisation methodology validated against lift-off forces and load-test measurements
- PEM: historical weather data used to forecast icing and ice-shedding events up to six hours in advance
- Alert levels support speed and lane restrictions, targeted inspections and closure decisions
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Event based monitoring
Bridge strikes, including vessel collisions and other impacts, can damage a structure in seconds, and the first report often comes from a witness, if it comes at all.
Event based monitoring turns an impact into an immediate, evidence-based response. The system combines structure-mounted sensors, camera systems and a supporting edge computing unit on site. Operators receive an automated alert with the complete event history, so they can confirm what happened, understand its cause and assess the bridge remotely before deciding whether to stop traffic, inspect or restore service.
- Sensors detect abnormal impact signatures and trigger recording automatically
- Pre- and post-event recording of synchronised sensor data and camera footage
- Vehicle classification, licence plate recognition and vessel identification
- Event reports forwarded to maintenance teams, ready for immediate follow-up
- Offline AI and edge computing: analysis continues even without network connectivity
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Real-time data, intelligent reporting, escalating alarms, and smart alerts with anomaly detection.
Related downloads
Structural Health Monitoring - Brochure
Why choose DYWIDAG for SHM?
With extensive industry knowledge, DYWIDAG delivers SHM solutions for every phase of a bridge’s lifecycle, committed to full lifespan management that ensures your asset’s safety and performance throughout its service life.
In-house engineering excellence
Our SHM engineering team of PhD civil engineers, electrical and software experts, and data analysts combine deep expertise to design, implement, and interpret sustainable monitoring systems.
Continuous innovation
We design custom sensors such as load cells and fiber optic systems tailored to each bridge, continuously advancing our SHM technology to adapt to evolving structural demands.
Tailored solutions for every bridge
Our scalable SHM system adapts to any bridge, new or existing, supporting sensors such as accelerometers which are integrated into stay cables to accurately monitor forces and structural behavior.
Advanced data analytics
Our dedicated analytics team transforms raw structural data into clear insights through automated reporting, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance, enabling asset owners to make informed decisions.
Built for sustainability
We know that applying an SHM system throughout a bridge’s lifespan requires well thought out engineering to overcome complex challenges. Structural Health Monitoring systems must deliver reliable performance over decades, yet electronic components often fall short.
To address this, we design durable, sustainable, and fit-for-purpose solutions featuring replaceable sensors, modular electronics, and cabling. Our systems also include remote diagnostics for automated monitoring and instant anomaly alerts, ensuring continuous, proactive asset management.
Durability in demanding environments
DYWIDAG’s SHM systems are engineered to withstand the most demanding environmental conditions, ensuring reliable performance in even the harshest settings. This resilience is achieved through the use of properly shielded wiring to protect against interference and damage, elevated conduit routing that prevents exposure to ground-level hazards, and the careful selection of high-durability components designed for longevity.
Every element of our system is rigorously tested and optimized for long-term operation under extreme weather, heavy dynamic loads, and continuous environmental stress, providing robust, maintenance-friendly monitoring solutions that stand the test of time.
Intelligent data insights
We transform complex structural data into clear, actionable insights. Our SHM systems leverage edge computing for real-time processing, advanced scripting for customized data workflows, and automated reporting for seamless communication.
With built-in predictive maintenance capabilities, our analytics help infrastructure owners detect early deviations from design parameters or short-term events to maximize safety, efficiency, and asset lifespan. However, we don’t stop at delivering data. Our dedicated SHM analytics team works closely with you to interpret the results, ensuring you gain meaningful insights that drive confident, data-informed decisions for your structure.
Want to know how our bridge monitoring services can support your next project?
