A monitoring-based classification system for risk management of bridge scour

Flood-induced scour is the principal cause of bridge failure worldwide. Nevertheless, risk assessment still based on visual inspections, which may be affected by human errors and cannot performed during flood peaks. This problem, together with simplifications in estimation, might misclassification risk, unnecessary closures or recourse to avoidable mitigation measures. Structural-health-monitoring (SHM) systems allow overcoming these issues, providing managers more accurate information about scour, thus supporting them taking optimal management decisions. paper illustrates development an SHM- event-based classification system for management, extends complements current risk-rating procedures incorporating various sources uncertainty characterising estimation from different sensors. The proposed a probabilistic framework can used provide transport agencies real-time bridges under heavy-flood event. applied network located south-west Scotland scenario, heterogeneous considered updating knowledge scour. It shown that integrating scour-monitoring data leads overall reduction reflected classification, helping prioritising inspections actions.