Real-time bridge disaster management: Enabling technology and application framework

Abstract

Bridges are susceptible to severe damage from natural disasters, heavy traffic loads, and material degradation, necessitating timely and accurate information for effective emergency response. Current bridge disaster management systems often fail to meet real-time requirements due to interoperability challenges and fragmented functionalities across different phases. This paper systematically reviews 146 research articles on bridge disaster management, summarising the key challenges and potential disasters that bridges may face during their operational lifespan and highlighting the technological applications and decision-making requirements for effective disaster management. Key limitations in existing systems include inadequate technology integration, delayed response times, and insufficient coordination. To address these gaps, this paper proposes a Real-time Bridge Disaster Management (RtBDM) framework, which integrates advanced digital technologies to enable real-time monitoring, data analysis, and adaptive decision-making. The proposed framework offers practical solutions to enhance bridge resilience and safety during disasters and provides valuable insights for future research in this field.