ABSTRACT
Scour is a natural phenomenon that involves the interaction between hydraulic conditions and mobile erodible bed materials causing a drastic reduction in the safe capacity and stability of structures. The need to obtain real-time information about the scour evolution during and after flood events is considered to be of significant importance considering the growing ageing infrastructure, constructed over geomorphological ‘active’ rivers, and the extreme shifting climatic conditions. The current qualitative visual inspection practice cannot provide reliable assessment of scour effects between these long time intervals as evident by major incidents of bridge failures associated with fatalities, disruption and significant (in)direct costs. The main objective of the study is to present an overview of the existing practice to assess scour at bridges and other types of infrastructure. Advantages and limitations of fixed and portable instruments employed to assess geomorphological conditions at bridge sites are analysed and presented. Main conclusions deriving from past monitoring efforts alongside with lessons learnt and future directions on scour assessment are discussed focusing on alternatives for real-time monitoring of climatic hazards of infrastructure at risk.
