Digital Model and Data-Driven Bridge Engineering: Plan, Design, Manufacturing, Construction, Safety and Maintenance

Dear Colleagues,

Digitalization of bridge engineering is a challenging task to combine domain knowledge and various digital technologies. In recent years, BIM (building information modelling) has been widely acknowledged as an essential and inevitable tool for the bridge industry. Information delivery and sharing in real-time is based on digital models. A collaborative work environment with other industries such as manufacturing and ICT requires new communication format. Data-driven engineering is a new way of practice to expand the scope of business in bridge engineering.

Digital design of bridges requires interoperability with design tools for aesthetic and analysis programs. Digital models enable creative design of bridge structures and link to digital manufacturing by 3D printers and robots. DfMA (design for manufacturing and assembly) is a new issue in civil engineering, especially for prefabricated structures. Prefabricated systems need much stricter tolerance control. Digitalization in particular is essential for preassembly and preconstruction of bridge structures. In the bridge construction industry, quality control and machine guidance using scanning appears as a potential alternative to improve productivity in construction.

Digital models with data enable us to deliver information through the whole life cycle of a bridge. LCDIV (life-cycle digital information value) provides an opportunity to innovate bridge engineering by adopting AI and IOT for the operation and maintenance. Accumulated data enable data-driven performance prediction of bridge members. New challenging developments of bridge maintenance system using digital models have been reported. Eventually, these efforts will create digital twin models for bridges, which can lead the bridge industry to the next level.       

The Special Issue, entitled “Digital Model and Data-driven Bridge Engineering: Plan, Design, Manufacturing, Construction, Safety, and Maintenance” offers an opportunity to connect new development outcomes, including theoretical, simulation, experimental studies, and case studies. 

Prof. Dr. Chang-Su Shim
Prof. Dr. Nashwan Dawood
Guest Editors

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