---
title: "How Can Space Technology Help With Bridge Safety Monitoring?"
id: 62547
type: "post"
slug: "how-can-space-technology-help-with-bridge-safety-monitoring"
author: "NSE"
published: "2023-09-14T02:55:41+00:00"
modified: "2023-09-14T09:34:50+00:00"
canonical: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/09/13/how-can-space-technology-help-with-bridge-safety-monitoring/"
markdown_url: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/09/13/how-can-space-technology-help-with-bridge-safety-monitoring.md"
description: "This article reviews how space technology, especially satellites, can provide valuable data to monitor the health and safety of bridges."
language: "en-US"
category:
  - "Downstream Market"
  - "Editor’s Picks"
  - "Space Economy"
  - "Space Technology"
  - "Spacecraft Systems: Space Segment"
  - "Spacecraft Systems: User Segment"
post_tag:
  - "GNSS"
  - "Navigation"
  - "RADAR"
  - "Satellites"
  - "Science"
  - "Sensors"
  - "Standards"
  - "Synthetic Aperture Radar"
  - "United States"
---

# How Can Space Technology Help With Bridge Safety Monitoring?

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bridge.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)

### How Bridge Safety Monitoring is Currently Done

The most common method for monitoring bridges is routine visual inspections. [In the United States, the National Bridge Inspection Standards requires that inspections are done once every two years, however many bridges are inspected more frequently.](https://www.transportation.gov/testimony/highway-bridge-inspections)

Trained inspectors look for signs of deterioration, damage, or changes in condition that may indicate a problem. Visual inspections provide a good overall assessment, but are limited in detecting internal issues.

Other techniques used include:

Acoustic sounding: Tapping bridge components with a hammer or chain to listen for changes in sound that may indicate flaws.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR): Uses radar pulses to image the internal structure and detect flaws like delamination or corrosion in concrete.

Corrosion sensors: Metallic or fiber optic sensors permanently installed to monitor areas prone to corrosion.

Strain gauges: Measure strain as loads are applied to detect changes in structural response.

Tiltmeters: Measure tilt and settlement of foundations and piers.

Accelerometers: Measure vibrations to detect changes in dynamic characteristics.

Thermal imaging: Detects subsurface defects based on surface temperature differences.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs): Provide aerial imagery for inspection.

Underwater imaging: Used to inspect underwater bridge components.

Automated monitoring using a network of installed sensors is becoming more common for real-time evaluation. But this requires expertise and expensive installation costs.

*Overall, visual inspection remains the primary method for most bridge owners. Advanced methods supplement visuals by probing specific areas of concern.*

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/img_5911.jpg?resize=696%2C984&ssl=1)

[Download document](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/buildings-13-01360.pdf)

### How Space Technology Can Help

Space technology, especially satellites, can provide valuable data to monitor the health and safety of bridges in several ways:

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from satellites can detect movements and deformations of bridges over time. [This allows early detection of potential structural issues before they become dangerous.](https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/remotesensing/remotesensing-11-01258/article_deploy/remotesensing-11-01258-v2.pdf?version=1560415784) SAR provides wide-area monitoring and can assess networks of bridges simultaneously.

High-resolution optical satellite imagery can provide regular overhead views of bridges to visually inspect for changes. This data can be compared over years to identify shifts in bridge components.

On-site sensors using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS can precisely track 3D positional changes of bridges in real-time. This complements SAR displacement data.

[Thermal infrared imagery](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/07/11/thermal-satellite-imagery-applications/) from satellites can indicate subsurface issues like corrosion or deterioration based on surface temperature changes.

Satellite data can be integrated with data from on-site sensors and [unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/07/31/tech-in-the-clouds-how-future-drones-may-eclipse-satellites/) to create comprehensive structural health monitoring of bridges.

Satellite communication enables remote transmission of sensor data from bridges for real-time monitoring and alerts.

### Summary

Satellites provide versatile sensing capabilities at large scales to identify potential bridge issues early. Space technology data enhances traditional inspection methods and enables frequent wide-area monitoring to improve bridge safety. Integrating satellite monitoring with on-site sensors and UAVs offers a comprehensive approach to bridge health management.