Bridge condition sensor

LifeSpan Technologies, a specialist in advanced structural condition assessment solutions for civil infrastructure, has announced the commercial availability of its newest PeakStrain sensor, allowing rapid and accurate evaluation of bridge conditions after a seismic event.
February 6, 2012 Read time: 1 min
2269 LifeSpan Technologies, a specialist in advanced structural condition assessment solutions for civil infrastructure, has announced the commercial availability of its newest PeakStrain sensor, allowing rapid and accurate evaluation of bridge conditions after a seismic event.

Visual inspection techniques have been used to assess the condition of bridges for decades, both in the US and many other countries. However, engineers in the US and Japan know that visual inspection is subjective, highly variable, and not sufficiently reliable for long-term bridge management. It is also slow and can be costly if bridges have to be visually inspected after each seismic event.

LifeSpan's new extended range PeakStrain sensor will be used by Japan Railways on the Shinkansen, a vital link across the country, to monitor lateral displacement of bridge members as a result of seismic activity. The device will allow Japan Railways to quickly determine if Shinkansen bridges can continue to be used or must be shut down to protect passengers and railway equipment.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Gothenburg’s year of congestion charging
    April 9, 2014
    A year after it went live, Colin Sowman examines the technology used for Gothenburg’s congestion charging system and the effect the scheme has had on commuters. When it comes to long-term planning, the Scandinavians take some beating.The West Swedish Agreement is a case in point. Introduced in 2009, the Agreement runs through to around 2027 and aims to create an attractive, sustainable and growing region, and over that timescale the number of journeys is expected to increase by a third. Therefore the Agreem
    Read More
  • Wireless outdoor bridges
    January 24, 2012
    MEL Secure Systems has announced the immediate availability of a new generation of wireless outdoor bridges. Using the latest MiMo (Multiple in/Multiple out) technology with transmission rates of up to 300Mbps, the company says it provides significantly improved performance over traditional bridges with the bandwidth required for streaming HD video and data in a wide range of security and IT applications. The device uses the latest IEEE 802.11n 5GHz technology to give a range of up to 10km (6.2 miles). The
    Read More
  • New services and equipment helps cities tackle air quality issues
    September 19, 2017
    With poor urban air quality shortening lives and fines being imposed for breaching pollution limits, authorities are seeking ways to clean up their cities. Poor air quality is topping the agenda for city authorities across the globe. In the UK, for example, a report from the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health, concluded that poor outdoor air quality shortens the lives of around 40,000 people a year – principally by undermining the health of people with heart and/or lung prob
    Read More
  • The inside story of how traffic chaos was avoided after I-95 collapse
    August 23, 2023
    June’s collapse of major US roadway I-95 in Pennsylvania could have caused lengthy traffic chaos. But - relatively speaking at least - it didn’t and gridlock was avoided. Alan Dron finds out why
    Read More

Highlighted Content