BridgeWatch

Our project is a portable, non-invasive bridge monitoring system designed to continuously collect structural and environmental data. The device is housed in a weatherproof 3D-printed enclosure and can be attached to a bridge without drilling or permanently modifying the structure.Using multiple sensors, the system measures bridge vibrations, environmental conditions, and traffic activity. A Raspberry Pi Pico processes the collected data and transmits it using LoRa to a nearby gateway. The gateway uploads the information to the cloud, where it can be viewed through a mobile application.Rather than replacing professional bridge inspections, our device serves as an early warning monitoring system, helping engineers identify unusual changes in bridge behavior between routine inspections.Why is this important?Bridges are critical pieces of infrastructure that millions of people rely on every day. Most bridges are only inspected every few months or years, meaning structural changes that occur between inspections can go unnoticed.Our project fills this gap by providing continuous, real-time monitoring. Instead of replacing professional inspections, the system acts as an early warning tool, detecting abnormal changes in vibration, movement, and environmental conditions that may indicate a developing problem.By combining affordable sensors with long-range LoRa communication, this system offers a scalable and cost-effective solution that could be deployed on many bridges rather than only high-value infrastructure. Continuous monitoring allows engineers to observe how bridges respond to traffic, weather, and long-term wear while identifying trends that may require further investigation.In addition to structural monitoring, the system also estimates traffic levels using vibration analysis. This information can help transportation departments understand bridge usage, identify heavily traveled routes, and make informed decisions about maintenance scheduling and future infrastructure improvements.