How data from satellites can track structural movement, and give early warning of potential failure. New research shows that catastrophic bridge collapses could have been prevented if engineers had been paying attention to the right information, information that is currently being collected by satellites orbiting our planet. Satellite monitoring is one of the many innovations to come from the burgeoning space sector, and we explore a new tool developed between the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult and Canada’s National Research Council that will allow asset managers to turn to data produced in orbit, to protect bridges back on earth.

In this episode we speak to the engineers making this possible, and their terrestrial counterparts now tasked with figuring out how best to use this new perspective.

Guests

Cristian Rossi, Principal Earth Observation Specialist, Satellite Applications Catapult

Daniel Cusson, Senior Research Officer, Construction Research Centre of the National Research Council Canada

Paul Febvre, Chief Technology Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult

Andrei Popa, Senior Bridge Engineer, Atkins

Anna Fitzgerald, Highways Systems Manager, Oxfordshire County Council

Charlie Davies, Innovation and Research Engineer, Costain

Stuart Martin, CEO, Satellite Applications Catapult

Lucy Edge, Chief Operating Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult

Sam Li, Senior Innovation Lead, Transport for Greater Manchester

Sam Adlen, Chief Strategy Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult

Partner

Satellite Applications Catapult

The Satellite Applications Catapult is a technology and innovation company, created to drive economic development through the exploitation of space. The Catapult is a not-for-profit organisation that works with businesses of all sizes to realise their potential from space.

Resources 

• Combined InSAR and Terrestrial Structural Monitoring of Bridges
• Pre-Collapse Space Geodetic Observations of Critical Infrastructure: the Morandi Bridge, Italy
• Historic assessment of Tadcaster Bridge

Brigital project Funding Sources

• Innovate UK
• National Research Council Canada
• Transport Canada
• Infrastructure Canada

The post #55 Saving Structures with Satellites first appeared on Engineering Matters.