B1 bridge on Wittekindstraße equipped with new technology
Bridges must be closely monitored. The focus is always on safety. A new system now supports the civil engineering department – and fits in with Dortmund’s Smart City strategy.
All Dortmund bridges are regularly checked for safety. The buildings are thoroughly inspected, measured and examined – and the results are documented by hand. A job that the bridges will soon be able to do independently: A new, sensor-based monitoring system makes this possible and is currently being tested.
26 sensors on the B1 bridge on Wittekindstraße send data
The B1 bridge on Wittekindstraße is part of a pilot project. It has now been equipped with 26 sensors for inclination, strain, crack and temperature measurement. The data collected automatically ends up in the civil engineering office and enables continuous monitoring and predictive maintenance of the structure. The system is used to manage the risk of endangered structures and extend their service life.
An expert opinion was obtained in advance to determine the type, number and position of the sensors to be installed.
Further buildings are added
By the middle of the year, further structures are to be equipped with a monitoring system on behalf of the civil engineering department, including the Hympendahlbrücke viaduct, the Lange Straße bridge and the Im Spähenfelde bridge. The Smart City team, the Surveying and Land Registry Office and the City of Dortmund’s Civil Engineering Office are working together on this.
The project contributes to the development of Smart City Dortmund and complements the existing sensor technology approaches, which are located in the “Public safety” field of action in the Smart City strategy.