Static testing of a bridge using an interferometric radar: the case study of "Ponte degli Alpini," Belluno, Italy

Area of Science:

• Geodesy
• Civil Engineering
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Ground-based radar interferometry (GB-InSAR) is a valuable tool for civil infrastructure monitoring.
• Static testing of bridges provides critical data for structural health assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the static testing of the 297m, 8-span Ponte degli Alpini bridge using GB-InSAR.
• To investigate novel aspects of radar interferometry in bridge monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Application of GB-InSAR for static testing of a bridge.
• Testing of a lateral span and a central span of the bridge.
• Unusual transversal radar positioning for central span measurements.

Main Results:

• Identification of a horizontal shift affecting lateral span displacement measurements, requiring careful interpretation.
• Obtained less geometrically distorted displacement maps for the central span due to transversal radar positioning.
• Novelty in displacement measurement interpretation and data acquisition strategies.

Conclusions:

• GB-InSAR is effective for bridge monitoring, but specific measurement conditions (e.g., horizontal shifts) must be considered.
• Transversal radar positioning can improve the quality of displacement maps in bridge monitoring.
• The study provides new insights into the application of GB-InSAR for civil infrastructure assessment.