Bridge Corrosion Threats and Sensor Monitoring Gaps

Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete bridges has imposed billions of dollars in repair costs for U.S. and Canadian infrastructure, with additional indirect losses from service disruptions. Historical studies trace the problem to chloride exposure and inadequate protective layers on embedded steel. Meanwhile, aging bridge inventories—42% of U.S. bridges over 50 years old and 7.5% classified as structurally deficient—prompt interest in sensor‑based monitoring (SBM) to improve maintenance decisions.

Surveys of industry and academic participants reveal that lack of knowledge about SBM and unclear operational requirements hinder widespread adoption. Respondents indicated that a viable SBM system must demonstrate monetary savings, reliably locate damage indicators, and provide actionable data to bridge owners and engineers. These gaps limit the transition of sensor technologies from research settings to routine infrastructure management.