Highways Ministry Makes Sensor Installation Mandatory For Bridge Health Monitoring, Here's All That It Entails

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mandated the installation of sensors on bridges, including devices for detecting corrosion, to monitor their real-time health status.

The ministry issued guidelines on Monday (4 March) for the identification and implementation of real-time health monitoring of bridges using sensors to all agencies involved in the development and management of national highway stretches as per a report by The Economic Times.

It emphasised that assessing the condition of bridges is crucial for conducting preventive maintenance, repairs, rehabilitation, retrofitting, or reconstruction of such structures in a timely manner to avoid traffic disruptions and incidents due to bridge failures.

According to the ministry, bridge investigation typically involves a visual survey to assess the overall integrity of the bridge, followed by a detailed instrument-aided investigation to determine the extent and severity of deterioration.

However, for important and major bridges, parameters such as strain, deflection, vibration, tilt, displacement, temperature, corrosion, and scour need to be continuously monitored using various types of sensors installed in the bridges.

This data can then be analysed using software tools and models to assess the bridge's condition.

The ministry also highlighted that real-time data collection and monitoring can be permanent for major bridges located in highly saline or polluted environments.

Sensors can be installed either during construction or subsequently during the operational stage. In some cases, continuous or discrete data collection and monitoring can be carried out on a real-time basis by installing sensors in different parts of the bridges either permanently or for a short duration.

"In light of the above, it has been decided to undertake real-time health monitoring of different categories of bridges on national highways using appropriate sensors. When preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for proposed bridges, the consultant must finalise the exact type, number, and locations of sensors and include this information in the cost estimates and scope of work," an official stated.

The exact type, number, and locations of sensors for existing bridges will be finalised and approved by senior highway engineers. The bid documents will include provisions for such sensors and their monitoring.