Sensors installed on bridges could help monitor their state and overall “health”, an expert in concrete materials has said.
Concerns about the safety of bridges have been on the rise after a motorway bridge collapsed in Genoa, killing 43 people.
Architect Ruben Paul Borg, senior lecturer at the University of Malta, has recommended sensor network systems which would transmit data to a central station monitored by a team of experts.
Architect Ruben Paul Borg. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli“This can help monitor the bridges for both early detection of damage for intervention and emergency repair,” Dr Borg said.
A pilot project on the Civil Abattoir reinforced concrete water tower in Marsa is already under way. The project – Reshealience – is a collaboration between the University of Malta and other international partners.
It is supported by the Planning Authority and the Environment Ministry.
Sensors installed at the water tower are set to measure different parameters, such as moisture levels, alkalinity in the concrete and the corrosion of reinforcement structures.
It does not mean these structures are in danger, or are unsafe
Dr Borg hopes the knowledge gained could then also be applied to monitor bridges in Malta in the long term, to enable early detection in cases of degradation.
“This would lead to timely interventions and maintenance, therefore improving on the quality of the infrastructure and extending the life of the bridges,” Dr Borg said.
The expert also called for the systematic inspection of bridges and structures, saying there should be a preventive, rather than a reactive approach to maintenance and interventions for repair.
He recommended that all bridges, in particular those on the arterial network, are inspected and to continuously assess and monitor their condition.
Bridges and flyovers have been exposed to increasing traffic loads with time while bridge materials and elements degrade with exposure to the environment.
Main junctions, such as the flyover at Blata l-Bajda, would need inspection, Dr Borg argued.
“It does not mean these structures are in danger, or are unsafe, but because they have been there for many years, regular inspection, monitoring and testing is recommended,” he said.
“If we invest in a rigorous inspection and quality management framework, we would be creating and maintaining better infrastructure assets which perform better throughout their lifetime. You would spend less on costly emergency repair and one can intervene before degradation has gone too far,” Dr Borg said.