AT&T System Lets Bridges Monitor Their Own Structural Integrity

The Internet of Things faces down crumbling infrastructure with an offering from AT&T designed to reduce the cost of manual inspections.

1 minute read

February 10, 2018, 5:00 AM PST

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Greenfield Bridge

David Fulmer / Flickr

While the federal government's intentions on infrastructure remain frustratingly vague, other actors are stepping forward to shore things up. Telecommunications companies for instance. For a price, AT&T's Smart Cities Structure Monitoring system will harness "Internet of Things" tech to monitor the structural soundness of bridges and railroads.

Katie Pyzyk writes, "Battery-operated sensors will monitor structural factors such as cracks, temperature, joint movement and angle changes. The system will take readings every eight hours and send information — including alerts about unsafe structures — to city leaders."

AT&T is marketing the system as a way for cities to save. "Despite the ongoing costs, the automated system has the potential to be more reasonable than consistently performing manual infrastructure inspections and analyses."

Pyzyk goes on, "Municipalities that purchase the system have the option to manage it themselves or to contract with AT&T for management services."

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 in Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of homes on green hillsides in Daly City, California.

Depopulation Patterns Get Weird

A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

April 10, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Aerial view of Oakland, California with bay in background

California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million

Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.

April 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

A view straight down LaSalle Street, lined by high-rise buildings with an El line running horizontally over the street.

Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing

Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.

April 10, 2024 - Chicago Construction News

Yellow and silver Metro Transit light rail train pulling into outdoor station in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Twin Cities Trains Move to Fewer Cars, Higher Frequency

Headways will drop from 15 minutes to 12 minutes.

27 minutes ago - Axios

Close-up of red Capital Bikeshare bikes with Washington Monument in background.

DC Bikeshare System Breaks Ridership Record

Capital Bikeshare users took over 20,000 rides on one day in March.

2 hours ago - DC News Now

Close-up of EV charging station sign with "No Parking except for EV charging" in outdoor parking lot.

EV Infrastructure Booming in Suburbs, Cities Lag Behind

A lack of access to charging infrastructure is holding back EV adoption in many US cities.

April 15 - PC Magazine

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.