Case studies

Bridge monitoring and infrastructure safety

Bridge monitoring is an increasingly strategic practice to ensure the safety, durability and predictive maintenance of road infrastructures. Tecnopenta has been active in this field for years, developing bridge monitoring systems with structural and environmental sensors, designed to continuously assess the structural health of assets and generate data for engineering analyses.

Monitoring enables both control under ordinary conditions and the assessment of structural behavior during exceptional events, such as floods, heavy traffic or earthquakes. The collected information is transmitted in real time to a web platform, with the possibility of setting configurable alert thresholds.

Sensors for structural bridge monitoring

Tecnopenta uses a comprehensive range of sensing instruments designed for integrated structural monitoring. These include:

• High-precision linear displacement transducers for detecting micro-movements at joints between structural elements.
• Biaxial inclinometers, also installed in chains, to monitor pier stability and identify settlements or rotations over time.
• Tri-axial MEMS accelerometers for analyzing vibrations and natural frequencies of the structure.
• Toroidal load cells, applied to tendons and anchor bars to monitor acting forces.
• Strain gauges for measuring deformation of beams or load-bearing elements.

Environmental monitoring and water level measurement

In addition to structural aspects, Tecnopenta integrates sensors for measuring environmental parameters (wind, rainfall, temperature, snow) and instruments for measuring the water level of underlying watercourses, such as ultrasonic sensors or radar. This makes it possible to correlate environmental actions with the mechanical response of the structure.

Data acquisition and METRA platform

All sensors are connected to FlexLog data loggers, capable of managing multiple measurement channels, powered by solar panels and equipped with a modem for remote data transmission. The collected data are sent to the METRA web platform, where it is possible to:

• View data in graphical and tabular form
• Export datasets
• Set customized alarm thresholds
• Integrate multiple structures into a single monitoring network

This architecture enables Tecnopenta to provide customized bridge monitoring systems that are reliable, scalable and designed for use in complex environments.