Space technology adapted to assess concrete bridges

A Swiss spin-off from ETH Zurich is applying technology originally developed to study the interior of Mars to monitor the safety of concrete bridges and other infrastructure.

Mondaic, founded in 2018 by ETH researchers, uses wave physics to send targeted ultrasonic signals through structures. Sensors then record how the waveforms are modified by the material’s interior, which is compared with a digital twin model. Differences between the real and simulated responses can reveal cracks, voids, water damage or poorly compacted mortar joints.

The approach has already been used to identify defects in prestressed tension cables in German bridges and to support inspections for the Swiss Federal Roads Office. Mondaic says its system can deliver results in minutes via cloud processing, avoiding the need for supercomputers and making the technology suitable for everyday use.

The potential applications for the UK’s ageing concrete infrastructure are clear. The system can detect voids and honeycombing caused by poor compaction, highlight water ingress before it leads to reinforcement corrosion, and monitor tendon or cable fractures in prestressed elements that might otherwise remain hidden. It can also identify defects in mortar joints within composite structures, enabling asset managers to plan timely interventions. Early detection of such issues could reduce maintenance costs, prevent failures and extend the life of critical bridges and viaducts.

“What allowed us to probe the Red Planet is today helping us to look inside bridges, aircraft parts or other materials,” said Christian Boehm, managing director of Mondaic.

The company has already provided complete inspection solutions, including sensors, cloud platforms and consultancy, and sees scope for expansion in transport infrastructure markets worldwide.