Red alert: Bridges in Germany are in danger of collapsing!

Red alert: Bridges in Germany are in danger of collapsing!

Bridges are often the backbone of the transport infrastructure, and in Germany in particular, many of them are on the verge of collapse. We hear more and more frequently about bridge closures and collapses, which not only endanger road safety but also place considerable strain on the affected regions. Current examples from the Republic show that the Rahmede valley bridge near Lüdenscheid is suffering from irreparable damage, while the Salzbachtal bridge near Wiesbaden has just suffered an accident. The Carola Bridge in Dresden has even collapsed, and the Ring Bridge in Magdeburg is also facing necessary demolition. These incidents pose enormous challenges for municipalities, state authorities and construction operators, especially given the urgent need for suitable monitoring solutions for bridges.

In this context, the research project “AIrBSound” was launched, which promises a promising solution. Loud baulinks.de The aim of this project is the early detection of damage to road crossing structures (FÜK) through acoustic monitoring. The initiators of the project are the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT and the engineering firm Marx Krontal Partner (MKP). With funding from the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) until summer 2026, practical tests will be carried out on the Wesenitzbrücke and Sachsenbrücke bridges in Pirna.

Acoustic monitoring for more safety

The technical details of “AIrBSound” are as exciting as they are promising. Using airborne sound sensors and AI-supported analyses, the system is intended to record acoustic signals that arise when driving over the crossings. These signals provide valuable information about the condition of the bridge components and allow conclusions to be drawn about the volume of traffic and the types of traffic. Acoustic monitoring can even detect damage such as cracks or loosening at an early stage - a real benefit for traffic safety bayika.de reported.

But that's not all that happens in the world of bridge research. In its most recent assessment, the Federal Highway Research Institute (BAM) classified almost 5,000 long-distance bridges as “inadequate” or even worse. Over 700 of them even fall into the “inadequate” category. In order to remedy these deficiencies, BAM would like to continuously monitor the bridges in the future using digital twins. These computer models simulate the behavior of real objects and help identify vulnerabilities at an early stage. In this way, even the smallest, invisible damage in hard-to-reach places could be detected in good time bam.de explained.

New technologies for infrastructure

The possibilities of the digital twin are enormous: Sensors on bridges continuously record data and transmit it to the model. Discrepancies between measurements and calculation results could indicate unexpected damage, and the software even has the potential to install virtual sensors in the computer model to monitor even more areas.

The development of these innovative procedures could help to assess the condition of bridges not just once a year, but to monitor them continuously. In view of the sharp increase in the number of bridge damages and the associated risks, the introduction of such technologies is not only desirable, but absolutely necessary.

Overall, it is clear that there is a need for action in Germany to ensure the safety of our bridges. Developments in digital surveillance technology could be the key to overcoming the challenges of the future - this means we are on the right track to sustainably strengthen the transport infrastructure.