Structural Health Monitoring (SHM & WIM)

Bridges are the backbone of the economy in every country. These essential elements of traffic infrastructure typically consist of steel, cast iron, or prestressed concrete - and nowadays many of them are aging. Determining a bridge’s condition solely by inspecting the structure from the outside is challenging. Fortunately, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) combined with Weigh In Motion (WIM) provides now bridge operators with accurate data on structural behavior and traffic loads. This approach allows for a thorough assessment of the overall bridge performance using site-specific information, enabling targeted interventions to enhance bridge condition, extend service life, and ensure structural safety.

Backed by over 50 years of measurement technology experience, Kistler supplies unique monitoring solutions for bridges of all types – solutions that ensure seamless availability of highly reliable bridge structural data (SHM) in combination with traffic load data (WIM).

Our complete solution provides a precise determination of several physical quantities related to the structural behavior of the bridge, in combination with traffic loading information and environmental conditions.

Kistler provides a wide range of services that ensure optimal support for users in all phases of the project, and throughout the entire operation and service lifespan of our complete solution. Kistler offers you flexibility: you can source the services you require according to your specific project, your requirements, and your own expertise.

Bridge structures have limited service lifetimes – and they face growing challenges due to natural aging as well as major increases in traffic density and loading. Holistic solutions from Kistler take account of all relevant parameters to ensure effective protection for infrastructure. At the same time as monitoring the bridge’s structure, our technology measures effective traffic loading from all vehicles passing over it on a 24/7 basis. Furthermore, any vehicle violating the legal limits for gross vehicle weight, axle weight and speed can be identified and automatically penalized.