Using Satellites To Monitor Bridge Safety

__roo writes: In an effort to detect crumbling infrastructure before it causes damage and costs lives, the European Space Agency is working with the UK's University of Nottingham to monitor the movements of large structures as they happen using satellite navigation sensors. The team uses highly sensitive satnav receivers that transmit real-time data to detect movements as small as 1 cm combined with historical Earth observation satellite data. By placing sensors at key locations on the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland, they detected stressed structural members and unexpected deformations.

Comments

probably good

[paul mafinga]

As long as the efforts actually pass scientific muster, as opposed to simply frightening a gullible public into ineffective tax and spend policies, it's a good idea.

That said, when an article begins with the assertion that infrastructure is crumbling, it's already biased.