Bridge Monitoring
DYWIDAG designs, installs and operates structural health monitoring (SHM) systems for bridges, from new cable-stayed and post-tensioned structures to the reassessment of ageing assets. As a technical supplier and installer of stay cables and post-tensioning systems, we know where to measure and what the data means. We monitor cable and tendon forces, movement, vibration and environmental conditions, and give owners the evidence they need to keep their bridges safe and in service for longer.
What we monitor
Cable & tendon force monitoring
Stay cables, hangers, external tendons and guy wires carry some of the most critical loads in a bridge. They are also among its most exposed elements, subject to fatigue, increasing live loads, corrosion and extreme events. DYWIDAG selects the monitoring method that best suits each structure, and its stage of life.
Vibration-based force measurement
- Accelerometers determine cable force from vibration caused by ambient traffic and wind, with no interruption to operations
- Retrofitted to the duct of existing cables or integrated into the stay on new structures
- DYWIDAG’s algorithms account for dampers, ties, clamps and other complex boundary conditions, including high bending stiffness
Direct force measurement at the anchorage
- DYNA Cell single-strand load cells measure force directly at the anchorage and remain inspectable and replaceable throughout the structure’s life
- DYNA Force elasto-magnetic sensors are contactless, have no moving parts and require no change to the standard stressing procedure
- Installed during construction or during stressing operations, with accuracy better than ±1%
From measurement to decision
- Force data is tracked over time on our Infrastructure Intelligence platform, with alerts when agreed thresholds are exceeded
- DYWIDAG specialists interpret the results and can carry out lift-off testing, re-stressing, and/or cable replacement, when action is needed
Related Projects
Revitalising Black Bridge, Stonehaven: A Testament to Innovative Engineering SolutionsUnited KingdomBridgesLongest Stay Cable Bridge in South America Links Brazil and Paraguay BrazilBridgesGuadiana Bridge: A New Generation of Smart Stay CableSpainBridgesRosario–Victoria Bridge: Stay Cable System for the Paraná River CrossingArgentinaBridgesAsk us about force monitoringSystems we use in this space
Related products
Learn moreDYNA Force
Improved asset management and safety through remote, permanent monitoring of post-tensioned tendons.
Learn moreSmart Anchor
Identify minor issues before they become major problems.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Vibration
Providing asset owners and engineers with reliable, continuous insight into tension members across the bridge structure, designed to reduce complexity — so you can focus on what matters most: performance, safety and results.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Anchorage
DYWIDAG's targeted structural health monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge anchorages
Displacement monitoring
Thermal action, live load, creep, shrinkage and settlement keep a bridge in continuous movement. DYWIDAG measures that movement at every scale. Vibrating wire gauges and fibre optic sensors capture small strains and crack openings. Draw-wire, ultrasonic and laser sensors track local displacements, and automated total stations and GNSS monitor large and global movements of the structure. Asset owners get an accurate picture of how their bridge is moving to plan maintenance, and designers get in-service data to check against their design assumptions.
- Expansion joint gaps and deck movement tracked against design limits
- Bearing displacement and rotation monitored to detect restraint before damage occurs
- Settlement and tilt at piers and abutments
- Global deformation of the deck and pylons, measured by automated total stations and GNSS
- Crack opening and strain under real loads, including during load tests and repairs
- Correlation with temperature and traffic, so that abnormal behaviour stands out from normal thermal cycling
- Engineering support from DYWIDAG specialists, who interpret the results and advise on maintenance or further investigation
Related Projects
Revitalising Black Bridge, Stonehaven: A Testament to Innovative Engineering SolutionsUnited KingdomBridgesLongest Stay Cable Bridge in South America Links Brazil and Paraguay BrazilBridgesGuadiana Bridge: A New Generation of Smart Stay CableSpainBridgesRosario–Victoria Bridge: Stay Cable System for the Paraná River CrossingArgentinaBridgesAsk us about displacement monitoringSystems we use in this space
Related products
Learn moreDYNA Force
Improved asset management and safety through remote, permanent monitoring of post-tensioned tendons.
Learn moreSmart Anchor
Identify minor issues before they become major problems.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Vibration
Providing asset owners and engineers with reliable, continuous insight into tension members across the bridge structure, designed to reduce complexity — so you can focus on what matters most: performance, safety and results.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Anchorage
DYWIDAG's targeted structural health monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge anchorages
Vibration and seismic monitoring
Wind, traffic and earthquakes all excite a bridge dynamically, and the way it responds reflects its stiffness, damping and condition. DYWIDAG installs accelerometers, and strong-motion sensors in seismic regions, so that the recorded response supports dynamic analysis, from modal identification to assessment against the design basis.
Over time, changes in natural frequencies or damping can indicate structural change long before it becomes visible. After an earthquake, recorded ground motion and structural response give owners early evidence for inspection priorities and reopening decisions. Vibration data also detects impacts and other unusual events, which automatically triggers event-based recording.
- Sensors on the deck, pylons, cables, tendons and foundations, positioned to suit the monitoring objectives of each structure
- Sampling rates and measurement ranges selected for the analysis required
- Continuous recording of wind and traffic response throughout the bridge’s service life
- Event-triggered recording of ground motion and structural response during earthquakes and impacts
- Stay cable vibration monitoring to assess damping and verify the performance of cable dampers
- Engineering support from DYWIDAG specialists, who interpret the results and advise on inspection, maintenance or mitigation
Related Projects
Revitalising Black Bridge, Stonehaven: A Testament to Innovative Engineering SolutionsUnited KingdomBridgesLongest Stay Cable Bridge in South America Links Brazil and Paraguay BrazilBridgesGuadiana Bridge: A New Generation of Smart Stay CableSpainBridgesRosario–Victoria Bridge: Stay Cable System for the Paraná River CrossingArgentinaBridgesAsk us about vibration/seismic monitoringSystems we use in this space
Corrosion monitoring
Corrosion begins at specific critical elements of a bridge, where moisture, chlorides and loss of protection coincide. It can progress unseen until section loss has already occurred. Effective corrosion monitoring therefore depends on knowing where to look.
Drawing on decades of experience with post-tensioning and stay cable systems, DYWIDAG identifies the elements where corrosion matters most for safety and service life, such as cable and tendon anchorages. We then fit the sensors suited to each one. The readings show when local conditions become corrosive, so inspection and maintenance go where they are needed rather than being spread across the whole structure.
- Corrosion risk assessment at construction, or during inspection of an existing structure, to define where and what to measure
- Targeted sensors for corrosion, humidity, moisture and temperature at anchorages, steel sections, and connections. Electrically isolated tendons and their electrical resistance check the integrity of the encapsulation and exposed reinforcement
- Threshold alerts that trigger inspection of the affected element
- A long-term record of exposure conditions at every monitored element
- Engineering support from DYWIDAG specialists to interpret the results and recommend protection or repair measures
Related Projects
Revitalising Black Bridge, Stonehaven: A Testament to Innovative Engineering SolutionsUnited KingdomBridgesLongest Stay Cable Bridge in South America Links Brazil and Paraguay BrazilBridgesGuadiana Bridge: A New Generation of Smart Stay CableSpainBridgesRosario–Victoria Bridge: Stay Cable System for the Paraná River CrossingArgentinaBridgesAsk us about corrosion monitoringSystems we use in this space
Related products
Learn moreDYNA Force
Improved asset management and safety through remote, permanent monitoring of post-tensioned tendons.
Learn moreSmart Anchor
Identify minor issues before they become major problems.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Vibration
Providing asset owners and engineers with reliable, continuous insight into tension members across the bridge structure, designed to reduce complexity — so you can focus on what matters most: performance, safety and results.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Anchorage
DYWIDAG's targeted structural health monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge anchorages
Environmental monitoring
As extreme weather becomes more frequent and more severe, wind, temperature, humidity and precipitation, increasingly affect how a bridge behaves. Regional weather data rarely reflects conditions at the structure itself, so DYWIDAG measures them on site and links them directly to the structural response. Removing these environmental effects from the data reveals the underlying behaviour that indicates real structural change.
DYWIDAG Predictive Environmental Modelling (PEM) takes this further. It combines on-site measurements with historical data and regional forecasts to warn of high winds, icing and ice shedding, flooding or reduced visibility before they affect the bridge.
- On-site weather measurement of wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity, precipitation, condensation and visibility
- Surface temperatures across girders, pylons and stay cables to capture thermal gradients
- Time-synchronised with structural sensors for direct correlation of environmental actions and structural response
- Validated method for removing environmental effects, checked against lift-off forces and load-test measurements
- Icing and ice-shedding forecasts up to six hours in advance
- Alert levels to support speed and lane restrictions, targeted inspections and closure decisions
Related Projects
Gordie Howe International Bridge: Stay Cable Innovation Across BordersUnited StatesBridgesRevitalising Black Bridge, Stonehaven: A Testament to Innovative Engineering SolutionsUnited KingdomBridgesLongest Stay Cable Bridge in South America Links Brazil and Paraguay BrazilBridgesGuadiana Bridge: A New Generation of Smart Stay CableSpainBridgesAsk us about environmental monitoringSystems we use in this space
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Get in touch for more informationDYNA Sense | Environmental Monitoring
DYWIDAG's environmental intelligence and predictive monitoring solution combines weather sensors, predictive modeling, and real-time analytics to help infrastructure operators anticipate environmental risks before they impact operations
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Anchorage
DYWIDAG's targeted structural health monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge anchorages
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Vibration
Providing asset owners and engineers with reliable, continuous insight into tension members across the bridge structure, designed to reduce complexity — so you can focus on what matters most: performance, safety and results.
Get in touch for more informationCOMING SOON: DYNA Sense | Vibration & Seismic Monitoring
DYWIDAG's targeted vibration and seismic monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge structures during seismic events
Event based monitoring
Vehicle strikes, vessel collisions, overloads and earthquakes can damage a bridge in seconds, and the first report often comes from a witness, if it comes at all. DYWIDAG’s event-based monitoring turns any significant event into an immediate, evidence-based response.
The system combines structure-mounted sensors, cameras and an edge computing unit on site. When an event is detected, operators receive an automated alert with the complete event history. They can confirm what happened, understand its cause and assess the bridge remotely before deciding whether to stop traffic, inspect or restore service.
- Automatic detection of impacts, overloads and seismic events, which triggers recording immediately
- Synchronised recording of sensor data and camera footage before, during and after the event
- Vehicle and vessel identification, including vehicle classification and licence plate recognition (where permitted), providing evidence for cost recovery
- Local analysis on site that keeps working even without a network connection
- Event reports sent to maintenance teams, ready for immediate follow-up
- Engineering support from DYWIDAG specialists to assess the damage and plan inspection or repair
Related Projects
Revitalising Black Bridge, Stonehaven: A Testament to Innovative Engineering SolutionsUnited KingdomBridgesLongest Stay Cable Bridge in South America Links Brazil and Paraguay BrazilBridgesGuadiana Bridge: A New Generation of Smart Stay CableSpainBridgesRosario–Victoria Bridge: Stay Cable System for the Paraná River CrossingArgentinaBridgesAsk us about event based monitoringSystems we use in this space
Related products
Get in touch for more informationDYNA Sense | Environmental Monitoring
DYWIDAG's environmental intelligence and predictive monitoring solution combines weather sensors, predictive modeling, and real-time analytics to help infrastructure operators anticipate environmental risks before they impact operations
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Vibration
Providing asset owners and engineers with reliable, continuous insight into tension members across the bridge structure, designed to reduce complexity — so you can focus on what matters most: performance, safety and results.
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Anchorage
DYWIDAG's targeted structural health monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge anchorages
Learn moreDYNA Sense | Force Monitoring - Anchorage
DYWIDAG's targeted structural health monitoring solution designed to provide continuous visibility into the performance of bridge anchorages
Real-time data, intelligent reporting, escalating alarms, and smart alerts with anomaly detection
Related downloads
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) - Brochure - DYWIDAG UK & Ireland
Why is bridge monitoring important?
The need for SHM is growing as bridges face increasing demands from rising traffic loads, aging structures, and the impacts of climate change. SHM provides real-time data on a bridge’s condition—helping engineers detect issues early, before they pose safety risks or require costly repairs.
By tracking factors like strain, vibration, and temperature, SHM supports safer, longer-lasting bridges. It reduces the need for manual inspections, lowers maintenance costs, and enables faster, data-driven responses to changing structural conditions. In today’s environment, SHM is essential for ensuring the long-term reliability and performance of bridge infrastructure.
Why choose DYWIDAG for SHM?
With extensive industry knowledge, DYWIDAG delivers SHM solutions for every phase of a bridge’s lifecycle, committed to full lifespan management that ensures your asset’s safety and performance throughout its service life.
In-house engineering excellence
Our SHM engineering team of PhD civil engineers, electrical and software experts, and data analysts combine deep expertise to design, implement, and interpret sustainable monitoring systems.
Continuous innovation
We design custom sensors such as load cells and fiber optic systems tailored to each bridge, continuously advancing our SHM technology to adapt to evolving structural demands.
Tailored solutions for every bridge
Our scalable SHM system adapts to any bridge, new or existing, supporting sensors such as accelerometers which are integrated into stay cables to accurately monitor forces and structural behavior.
Advanced data analytics
Our dedicated analytics team transforms raw structural data into clear insights through automated reporting, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance, enabling asset owners to make informed decisions.
Want to know how our bridge monitoring services can support your next project?
Built for sustainability
We know that applying an SHM system throughout a bridge’s lifespan requires well thought out engineering to overcome complex challenges. Structural Health Monitoring systems must deliver reliable performance over decades, yet electronic components often fall short.
To address this, we design durable, sustainable, and fit-for-purpose solutions featuring replaceable sensors, modular electronics, and cabling. Our systems also include remote diagnostics for automated monitoring and instant anomaly alerts, ensuring continuous, proactive asset management.
Built for durability in demanding environments
DYWIDAG’s SHM systems are engineered to withstand the most demanding environmental conditions, ensuring reliable performance in even the harshest settings. This resilience is achieved through the use of properly shielded wiring to protect against interference and damage, elevated conduit routing that prevents exposure to ground-level hazards, and the careful selection of high-durability components designed for longevity.
Every element of our system is rigorously tested and optimized for long-term operation under extreme weather, heavy dynamic loads, and continuous environmental stress, providing robust, maintenance-friendly monitoring solutions that stand the test of time.
Intelligent data insights
We transform complex structural data into clear, actionable insights. Our SHM systems leverage edge computing for real-time processing, advanced scripting for customized data workflows, and automated reporting for seamless communication.
With built-in predictive maintenance capabilities, our analytics help infrastructure owners detect early deviations from design parameters or short-term events to maximize safety, efficiency, and asset lifespan. However, we don’t stop at delivering data. Our dedicated SHM analytics team works closely with you to interpret the results, ensuring you gain meaningful insights that drive confident, data-informed decisions for your structure.
