Innovative research into bridge monitoring at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg
Innovative sensors developed by BTU aim to save dilapidated structures
According to Deutsche Bahn, more than 11,000 railway bridges in Germany are over 100 years old. The challenge lies in determining which structures should be prioritized for renovation, as replacing all of these bridges at once is not economically feasible.
Against this backdrop, researchers at the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg are conducting intensive research on bridge monitoring and maintenance. A research team consisting of Randolf Rotta and doctoral student Sneha Chatharajupalli has developed an innovative solution that makes infrastructure monitoring faster and more efficient. During the conference of the Innovation Campus for Electronics and Microsensor Technology, which took place in Cottbus in early May, they demonstrated their technology using a model train made of Lego bricks. This annual event focuses on transferring cutting-edge research to the business sector.
While the use of sensors in bridge inspections is not new, the sensor technology developed by the Lusatian researchers provides a highly detailed picture of every point on a bridge. Chatharajupalli explains that the communication technology they have developed detects vibrations on the bridge via numerous sensors and correlates them with one another. These sensors are capable of transmitting their data to a central base station, providing a comprehensive overview of the bridge’s condition
(Copyright shortly LR 28.05.2026)