SmartBRIDGE Hamburg: Innovation in Köhlbrand Bridge Management

Project leader

The project manager is the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA).

Description of the project 

The Köhlbrand Bridge is a Hamburg landmark and the backbone of industry and transport in the port. The bridge is half a century old, has a length of 3.6 kilometers and a capacity of 38,000 vehicles per day. It therefore requires a high level of maintenance.

A bridge is subject to constant static and dynamic loads. It is therefore subjected to a thorough inspection every three years to detect and eliminate damage.

The challenge is to perform predictive maintenance and condition analysis at any time.

The project consists of creating a “digital twin” of the Köhlbrand bridge that combines analog and digital data to provide a complete and detailed view of the structure. This digital twin enables permanent and continuous monitoring of the bridge’s condition, facilitating more accurate damage prevention and providing a much more predictive, sustainable and proactive maintenance approach.

The project uses technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), virtual reality and Internet of Things (IoT), along with a suite of sensors and monitoring systems, to collect and contextualize real-time data on the condition of the bridge. This improves collaboration between the different actors involved in the maintenance of the bridge and enables an intuitive 3D interface for better visualization and understanding of the structure.

Objectives of the project

 The SmartBRIDGE Hamburg project aims at real-time analysis of the condition of the Köhlbrand Bridge in the Port of Hamburg, to achieve more effective management and predictive maintenance through digital transformation and innovative approaches to bridge maintenance.

By implementing this new maintenance system, the aim is to optimize resources and ensure timely and proper maintenance, since, thanks to the advanced technologies used, more informed decisions can be made and bridge downtime can be reduced.