ABSTRACT
Bridge safety in Europe has been questioned in recent periods since the existing transport infrastructure is aging and not equally well maintained. This paper reviews projects relevant to bridge maintenance, highlighting technologies and methods that have been addressed in the areas of management, inspection, retrofitting and structural health monitoring (SHM). In doing so, a system approach is implemented, by breaking-down relevant issues that are researched. The research focuses on projects found in the European Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) database. What emerges is substantial research funded in Europe through framework programmes (FP), research that covers all areas of bridge safety (materials, loads, hazards, management, monitoring etc.). In the conclusions, emerging SHM solutions already investigated in European research are highlighted. These solutions carry a potential for reshaping the field of bridge inspection and monitoring.
