LifeSpan Technologies provides objective, actionable information so that states, cities, and other owners can safely derive the lowest life-cycle cost from their bridge and other structural assets.
LifeSpan Technologies delivers condition assessment solutions utilizing patented, industrial-grade sensing; wireless datacom; and view-anywhere, Internet-based information technologies with four-nines reliability.
Using LifeSpan’s solutions, our clients can spend more time analyzing precise, real-time structural information to support difficult decisions involving structural maintenance, repair, or replacement; rather than relying solely on subjective visual inspection data.
Why structural monitoring?
The average age of bridges in the United States is relentlessly approaching the end of their intended design life. Across the United States over 60,000 bridges are already classified as structurally deficient, using visual inspection standards adopted over 50 years ago.
When a bridge is classified as structurally deficient, next steps typically include restrictive load postings, more frequent inspections, and the planning and scheduling of repairs or replacement — all very disruptive and expensive actions that few owners can afford today.
Over the past decade, the use of structural monitoring technology has demonstrated to owners that a significant percentage of their structurally deficient bridges are in better to much better condition than assumed by visual inspection.
This positive outcome, resulting from the effective use of structural monitoring technology, was achieved by analyzing more accurate, objective and timely on-bridge, sensor-based information.
In many cases, restrictive bridge posting limits were raised or removed, replacements safely deferred, and expected repair scope reduced or even eliminated.
LifeSpan Technologies, using its patented strain sensors coupled with additional structural monitoring equipment, has routinely provided results that help bridge and other structure owners safely defer expensive maintenance actions or capital expenditures.
LifeSpan’s multi-use strain sensors require no electrical power for capturing maximum strain values, making them the industry standard for both nondestructive load testing (AASHTO methodology) and long-term structural monitoring applications.
LifeSpan’s structural monitoring products and services provide bridge owners with rapid return on investment results — at times measured in months.
By safely extending the useful life of bridges and other structures, substantial cost savings can relieve the underlying transportation funding concerns of states and local jurisdictions.
And by eliminating or relaxing unnecessary load postings; lower transportation costs for manufacturing, farming, distribution, and other businesses support economic improvement through new business development, business expansion and employee retention.