Boosting circular transport infrastructures through advanced bridge management
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Luleå tekniska universitet - Luleå tekniska universitet Inst f samhällsbygg & naturresurser |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 2 399 100 |
| Project duration | November 2024 - May 2026 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation program InfraSweden |
| Call | SIP InfraSweden: Increased circularity for the transport infrastructure, call for proposals 2 |
Important results from the project
The project achieved its goals through a platform for predictive bridge maintenance with wireless IoT crack sensors (via ThingWave Nucleus) and a KPI framework for sustainability and circularity (LCA/LCC). An important additional result is the platform´s cybersecurity assessment. The most significant spin-off result is the follow-up project Drive by monitoring, funded by Vinnova, where the platform is now being tested for bridge monitoring in Luleå Municipality.
Expected long term effects
The project is expected to enable a shift from manual inspection to continuous, data-driven bridge monitoring across Sweden´s 30,000 bridges, based on cost-effective wireless IoT crack sensors. The KPI framework for sustainability and circularity (LCA/LCC) can contribute to extended bridge lifespan and reduced environmental impact, in line with climate goals. Economically, the results can reduce the risk of costly infrastructure incidents, with Drive by monitoring as a first scaling step.
Approach and implementation
The projecyt was carried out across six work packages: WP1 covered project management, administration and dissemination. WP2 developed a sensor and data platform for bridge monitoring, with wireless IoT crack sensors via ThingWave´s Nucleus platform, plus a cybersecurity assessment. WP3 produced bridge performance indicators, WP4 conducted life cycle and cost assessments (LCA/LCC), WP5 developed a KPI framework for sustainability and circularity, and WP6 was a pilot study testing the results.