Bridges are an essential component of the train and vehicle traffic network. Increasing traffic loads, the demand for faster transit speeds and the possible influences of weather effects drive the need to evaluate existing bridges that in some cases have been in use for decades. The existing construction documentation is not always sufficient to obtain reliable statements about e.g. the remaining useful life or changing utilization conditions. Suitable metrological methods combined with calculation models allow these tasks to be resolved.

bridges evaluation; metrological methods; short–term measurements; long–term monitoring