Latest news with #HealthMonitoring
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Use sensors, AI to monitor vital infra in India
Leading structural engineering experts have called for the urgent adoption of sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to monitor and maintain critical infrastructure across India, including road and railway bridges, tunnels, and dams. They stressed that traditional methods like visual inspections are no longer enough to ensure the safety and longevity of these key assets. Speaking at a seminar on 'Capacity Augmentation & Service Life Enhancement of Bridges,' organised by the India chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF), Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director of CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, stressed that India must shift to smarter solutions for infrastructure monitoring. She highlighted how modern technologies such as advanced instrumentation, AI, and data analysis can help identify internal damages that are often missed during manual inspections. "Bridges are the lifelines of our transport networks. Maintaining them in good condition is crucial for both safety and accessibility," she said. "Relying only on visual inspections is risky, as they often fail to detect hidden damages and can be highly subjective and time-consuming," Anandavalli explained. She added that environmental factors, water exposure, air pollution, and increasing traffic loads lead to faster deterioration of infrastructure, making timely detection and repair even more important. Using AI-based systems and embedded sensors -- an approach known as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) -- can allow engineers to detect issues early, better understand damage patterns, and plan maintenance more effectively. However, Anandavalli also pointed out a major challenge. "At present, India imports critical sensors at a very high cost. It is time we invest in developing our own sensor technology to reduce dependence on imports and make large-scale infrastructure monitoring more affordable," she said. Echoing her views, Dr Gopal Rai, CEO of Dhirendra Group of Companies, said that while SHM systems offer many benefits over traditional inspections, their high cost remains a key hurdle. 'These technologies are essential for ensuring the safety and extending the lifespan of our bridges and tunnels, but they must become more accessible and affordable for widespread use,' he noted.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
RIDOT: 2.6K+ overweight trucks drove over Washington Bridge
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has been tracking how many overweight trucks are crossing the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge. RIDOT shared data on Thursday that was collected by the weigh-in-motion system installed to help monitor the bridge. Over the past seven weeks, RIDOT said more than 2,600 vehicles weighing more than 96,000 pounds drove over the bridge. ALSO READ: McKee presses Trump team to release $470M for Washington Bridge, other projects The weigh-in-motion system is part of the Structural Health Monitoring system, which will help constantly monitor the structural health of the bridge. According to RIDOT, the bridge has a weight limit of 80,000 pounds, but vehicles weighing up to 96,000 pounds can cross the bridge if they have a permit. If a truck weighing 140,000 pounds or more crosses the bridge, RIDOT said crews will do a visual inspection to determine if there were any impacts. According to the data, the heaviest vehicle recorded so far drove over the bridge on Jan. 15 and weighed 135,225 pounds. RELATED: Washington Bridge demolition enters next phase The number of trucks weighing more than 96,000 pounds that crossed the bridge comes out to only 0.05% of the 133,000 vehicles using the bridge in both directions each day, RIDOT noted. Data from the weigh-in-motion system can be found online and is updated every Wednesday with the data from the last week. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
