Benefits of the instrumentation, monitoring and control systems (IMC) of bridges in Colombia, from an economic point of view through a case study

Abstract

An instrumentation, monitoring and control (IMC) system is the result of the application of different branches of engineering such electrical, systems and telecommunications, applied to solve a problem in civil engineering, and achieving a radical innovation in the construction and the maintenance of bridges. These different branches come together to carry out activities such as the development of measurement instruments, applications for the storage and analysis of data, and the transmission thereof. This article presents the state of art about road infrastructure controls in Colombia, particularly on bridges. It summarizes some important cases of collapse with their main causes, establishing as an effective solution IMC of the bridges throughout the structures’ life cycle, showing the benefits associated with the initiation of the system. In addition, an economic analysis of the installation of an IMC system is presented through a case study of one bridge located in Colombia, which has enabled us to identify and find relevant information related to those responsible for the project, the required instrumentation and the investment percentages regarding this particular type of project. The text consists of seven sections, which address the problems, instrumentation, software and personnel requirements for this type of project in Colombia, and finally to examine the associated costs.