ABSTRACT
Our industry is facing a global problem with aging infrastructure. We need asset health data to extend service life of structures and thereby decarbonize our sector. Current structural monitoring tools are too expensive and not scalable enough. However, mobile computer vision technology has a potential to revolutionize structural monitoring by providing easy to use and affordable tools like regular smartphones. Great Belt East Bridge forms a part of the critical Scandinavian infrastructure. Inside the bridge anchor block there are several structural elements like bearings that ensure safe operation of the bridge. The bridge owner (Sund & Bælt) was concerned about the proper functioning of the bearings. This paper shows how Sund & Baelt technicians with no prior monitoring experience used a regular smartphone to capture and analyse bridge asset health data with sub-mm accuracy. The DES mobile app allowed for rapid data collection and analysis of the bearing behavior. The visual data obtained from the app triggered maintenance actions that ensured proper functioning of the bearings. Today, the mobile app for asset condition survey is used in connection with Sund & Bælt’s operation and maintenance of the bridge. According to the bridge owner the mobile app has a potential to revolutionize bridge structural health monitoring worldwide.
