Bridges are critical components of transport infrastructure and must function reliably over decades.
A significant portion of the load-bearing structure—especially foundations, piers, and abutments—is submerged underwater and not visible during operation. At the same time, critical damage frequently develops in precisely these areas.
Furthermore, bridge structures are often large and complex. Gaining a clear overview of their actual condition is therefore challenging—especially when structures are only inspected in sections. Additionally, as-built documentation is frequently incomplete or outdated.
Structural inspections are often conducted via visual assessments, divers, or industrial climbers. These deployments are resource-intensive, require specialized access equipment, and typically yield only localized, point-in-time insights.
Meanwhile, maintenance requirements for many structures are on the rise. Maintenance measures must therefore be targeted and prioritized systematically.
In practice, this means:
The actual state of the system is often only partially known. Consequently, decisions regarding maintenance and operations are based on a limited set of data.
Our approach to structural data acquisition
HydroMapper creates a comprehensive and reliable data foundation for bridge structures.
By combining various surveying methods, bridges are fully captured — both above and below the waterline. Even difficult-to-access areas such as piers, foundations, or undersides can be precisely documented.
Modern acoustic methods make it possible to map underwater structures regardless of visibility conditions, revealing damage that cannot be reliably detected using conventional inspections.
HydroMapper's years of experience in surveying complex infrastructure ensure that data collection is specifically tailored to the requirements of structural inspection, analysis, and operation.
Added value for operations and maintenance
Complete capturing of bridge structures creates a whole new level of decision-making data.
Based on the survey data, a continuous, three-dimensional model of the structure is generated. This makes the structural condition significantly easier to understand and track, even for large and complex developments.
HydroMapper combines data acquisition with engineering analysis, enabling:
well-founded condition assessments and targeted prioritization of measures
a significant reduction in closure periods thanks to better predictability of inspections and interventions
a continuous, interoperable data foundation for all project stakeholders
You can easily supplement and update the data—for example, with photos and observations from on-site inspections. Damage is recorded in a structured manner and documented in an audit-proof format, allowing you to track its development over time.
In practice, this means:
The actual state of the system is often only partially known. Consequently, decisions regarding maintenance and operations are based on a limited set of data.
A real-world example
Hamburg Elevated Railway Authority (Hamburger Hochbahn)
Digital Reality Capture of the Barmbek Steel Viaduct
Digital Documentation
Collaborative Planning
Sustainable Structural Preservation
By capturing georeferenced data during short track closures, we’ve created the very first continuous digital data foundation for this 100-year-old steel viaduct. InfraCloud connects documentation, the structural model, and all project collaborators on a single, shared platform—giving you the perfect starting point for efficient, long-term maintenance planning.
