'Approach to aging infrastructure can be smart and responsible with monitoring'

Municipalities in the Netherlands face an immense challenge: maintaining and renewing aging infrastructure, such as bridges, viaducts and underpasses, while financial resources are scarce. The cost of renovating and replacing these structures runs into the hundreds of billions, and available budgets are inadequate. Not taking action, however, is not an option; infrastructure is the backbone of our daily lives and our economy. 

Part of the solution lies in the power of monitoring. By continuously monitoring bridges and viaducts, we can accurately determine which structures are still safe and usable, and which ones actually need replacement. This prevents expensive resources from being spent on unnecessarily replacing structures that can still be used for years to come. This approach enables municipalities to use their scarce budgets more effectively. 

At Fugro, we offer advanced monitoring solutions. With sensors and settlement measurements, we can monitor the condition of structures in real time. This technology enables us to detect abnormalities, such as subsidence or cracks, at an early stage. This allows governments to take timely and targeted action, as was evident in the Vollenhoventunnel. Thanks to timely monitoring and intervention, the tunnel remained safe and operational, without major traffic disruption. 

So with the same technology, we can also find out that a bridge or viaduct is just not yet due for replacement. And so it is not only a technical solution, but also a financially responsible choice. By acting smartly and proactively, municipalities and provinces can extend the lifespan of their engineering structures, allowing expensive replacements to be responsibly postponed. This is a win-win for both the safety of our infrastructure and the government's wallet. We are happy to support local governments in this important task so that our infrastructure remains reliable in the future.