How data from satellites can track structural movement, and give early warning of potential failure. New research shows that catastrophic bridge collapses could have been prevented if engineers had been paying attention to the right information, information that is currently being collected by satellites orbiting our planet. Satellite monitoring is one of the many innovations to come from the burgeoning space sector, and we explore a new tool developed between the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult and Canada’s National Research Council that will allow asset managers to turn to data produced in orbit, to protect bridges back on earth.
In this episode we speak to the engineers making this possible, and their terrestrial counterparts now tasked with figuring out how best to use this new perspective.
Guests
Cristian Rossi, Principal Earth Observation Specialist, Satellite Applications Catapult
Daniel Cusson, Senior Research Officer, Construction Research Centre of the National Research Council Canada
Paul Febvre, Chief Technology Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult
Andrei Popa, Senior Bridge Engineer, Atkins
Anna Fitzgerald, Highways Systems Manager, Oxfordshire County Council
Charlie Davies, Innovation and Research Engineer, Costain
Stuart Martin, CEO, Satellite Applications Catapult
Lucy Edge, Chief Operating Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult
Sam Li, Senior Innovation Lead, Transport for Greater Manchester
Sam Adlen, Chief Strategy Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult
Partner
Satellite Applications Catapult
The Satellite Applications Catapult is a technology and innovation company, created to drive economic development through the exploitation of space. The Catapult is a not-for-profit organisation that works with businesses of all sizes to realise their potential from space.
Resources
- Combined InSAR and Terrestrial Structural Monitoring of Bridges
- Pre-Collapse Space Geodetic Observations of Critical Infrastructure: the Morandi Bridge, Italy
- Historic assessment of Tadcaster Bridge
Brigital project Funding Sources
- Innovate UK
- National Research Council Canada
- Transport Canada
- Infrastructure Canada