Successful Use of Bridge Structural Health Monitoring Systems Relies on Clear Documentation, Open-Source Tools, and Modular Design To Support Easy Adoption, Expansion, and Maintenance.

The BRACE² health monitoring platform was developed to support timely and informed decision-making about bridge safety. Its goal was to bridge the gap between decision-makers, engineers, and researchers by providing accurate structural health assessments, particularly after events like earthquakes or accidents. The platform was piloted in California, originally targeting five bridges but later expanded to monitor 22 bridges. The platform integrated with existing infrastructure databases, such as the National Bridge Inventory, and had partnerships with agencies such as the California Geological Survey (CGS), which provided real-time seismic data. BRACE² included four core elements: assets (i.e., bridge inventory), predictors (e.g., structural analysis models using finite element methods), events (e.g., incidents on happening on a bridge in the inventory), and metrics (quantitative indicators of structural health, such as stiffness or ductility, tailored for decision-making). The platform involved functionalities that allowed real-time data ingestion and communication, and processed and streamed sensor data to the platform within about one minute. 

The main lessons learned from this study were as follows.

• Leverage existing sensor data to rapidly assess bridge conditions. The BRACE² deployment demonstrated that bridges with pre-installed instrumentation enabled quicker and more accurate evaluations, reducing the need for extensive new hardware investments. Future deployments should similarly prioritize data-rich assets.
• Ensure engineers understand predictor configurations and how to interpret health metrics. The platform’s effectiveness depends on informed users who can calibrate models appropriately and translate quantitative outputs into actionable insights for decision-makers. Continued training and outreach are critical.
• Overall, successful use of bridge structural health monitoring systems relies on clear documentation, open-source tools, and modular design to support easy adoption, expansion, and maintenance. This is highlighted through the extensive inclusion of the following: open-source scripts and workflows for predictor modeling and health metric generation; detailed configuration templates for adding new bridges or sensor types; a clear API and software architecture to ensure system transparency and adaptability; and guidance for transferring system ownership and maintaining operational readiness.