Estonian deep tech company GScan was awarded the contract for a project initiated by the Estonian Government Office. The project aimed to develop experimental methods for assessing the functionality and structural condition of existing bridges.

The aim of this experimental development is to work out a new methodology that would allow for a more precise and reliable assessment of the internal structures of existing bridges. This includes damage to the reinforcement steel and post-tensioned systems inside the reinforced concrete, or internal damage to the concrete itself.

The current method of diagnosing the internal condition of reinforced concrete is limited, which can result in expensive projects such as demolishing bridges before the end of their actual lifetime or repairing bridges that are seemingly in good condition but have internal damage.

GOOD TO KNOW
There are 4 million bridges in Europe and the United States alone, half of which are over 50 years old.

“Currently, the biggest issue is the inability to assess internal structures,” says Taivo Kurg, a construction expert at the Development Department of the Transport Administration. “We’re limited to only assessing external damages when deciding whether to repair a bridge or to demolish it and build a new one instead. More information on the internal conditions of bridge structures is required to evaluate the feasibility and lifetime potential of investments.”

“For that, it’s necessary to find a method that allows for the internal assessment of bridges up to a depth of several metres, as the planned lifetime of a bridge may vary between 50 to 100 years, depending on the time of construction. The upcoming research carried out on Estonian bridges will be interesting and innovative, a fieldwork project on real structures that is the only one of its kind in the world,” added Kurg.

1,26 million euro project to assess the structural condition of Estonian bridges

The project aims to reduce uncertainties arising from expert opinions and to improve decision-making processes on the basis of more reliable information. The objective is to extend the lifetime of existing bridges and to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 10%. The duration of the research is 18 months and the budget of the project is €1.26 million.

“GScan’s technology combines muon tomography and artificial intelligence to detect corrosion and chemical changes in critical infrastructure at depths of up to 10 metres and with an accuracy of up to a few millimetres,” adds Marek Helm, CEO of GScan.

“I’m pleased that the Transport Administration is at the forefront of innovation in infrastructure maintenance. This allows us to save significantly on maintenance costs and increase safety. There are 4 million bridges in Europe and the United States alone, half of which are over 50 years old. The sustainable maintenance of such infrastructure is a major challenge for society, the economy and the environment. We can provide a solution,” noted Helm.

“The upcoming research carried out on Estonian bridges will be interesting and innovative, a fieldwork project on real structures that is the only one of its kind in the world.”
Taivo Kurg, a construction expert at the Development Department of the Transport Administration

The experimental development will involve testing different types of bridge structures using various technologies. One of these is a muon tomography system based on natural atmospheric radiation. This methodology includes non-destructive tests that enable the internal assessment of bridge structures.

Other alternative technologies such as ground-penetrating radars and acoustic methods will also be tested. To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of these new methods, results will be compared with those of the current methods.

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