IoTBridge is joining forces with Mid Sweden University, FiberCheck and Chemnitz University of Technology to develop next-generation bridge monitoring systems based on wireless, low-cost and low-power sensors and gateways.
Financed by Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Vinnova, the SHIELD project responds to the growing demand for reliable and affordable bridge monitoring solutions. The initiative has been driven by a series of serious infrastructure failures across Europe, where hidden structural damage went undetected by traditional inspection methods, leading to sudden collapses with major societal consequences.
On 11 September 2024, the Carola Bridge in Dresden suddenly collapsed due to corrosion damage that had gone undetected during standard inspections. The SHIELD project aims to reduce the risk of such accidents through real-time monitoring of critical parameters, including strain, vibration, corrosion and temperature. Heiko119 / iStockphoto.com
Combining expertise in sensor technology, IoT and AI
The consortium brings together expertise in sensor technology, IoT and AI to create energy-efficient, wireless monitoring systems capable of measuring critical parameters such as strain, vibration, corrosion and temperature in real time. The technology is designed to significantly reduce the cost of instrumenting bridges and other critical infrastructure, while also minimising maintenance requirements through low-power operation and fewer battery replacements.
The project focuses on three key challenges: developing low-power solutions for strain measurement, creating cost-effective and energy-autonomous data acquisition devices tailored for bridge monitoring, and implementing AI-based signal analysis directly within the system to reduce cloud storage requirements and data communication.
Sustainable and innovative infrastructure monitoring
Building on many years of combined research and industrial experience, the SHIELD project aims to advance sustainable and innovative infrastructure monitoring, helping to reduce accident risks, extend bridge lifespans and create new commercial opportunities.
The ultimate goal is to deliver robust and scalable monitoring systems that enable continuous supervision of even smaller bridges without access to fixed electrical infrastructure.
The SHIELD project runs from May 2026 through April 2028. IoTBridge is a subsidiary of CNet.