At Stroma Specialist Access, we provide Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) services for bridges, buildings, and critical infrastructure across the UK, generating precise, real-time data to help asset owners understand structural condition, manage risk, and plan effective maintenance.
Bridge, Building, and Infrastructure Health Monitoring
Unlike periodic inspections, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) offers continuous insight into how structures respond to ongoing operating and environmental conditions. At Stroma Specialist Access, we combine structure monitoring technology, data acquisition, and engineering analysis to provide accurate findings across:
- Bridges, tunnels, and retaining walls
- Rail and highway infrastructure
- Buildings and heritage assets
- Marine and industrial structures
- Temporary construction works
- Earthworks and embankments
Understanding how structures perform throughout their operating life is essential for maintaining safety, managing risk, and planning effective maintenance. Our experienced engineers deliver bespoke monitoring solutions that help teams identify deterioration or developing defects and make informed decisions about further inspection, maintenance, or intervention.
Our Structural Health Monitoring Services
We design, install, and manage both temporary and permanent structural integrity assessment solutions using a wide range of sensors and monitoring technologies, tailored to your project’s asset, operating environment, and measurement objectives.
Permanent Structural Health Monitoring
Long-term monitoring solutions designed to track structural performance, movement, and asset condition throughout a structure’s operational life.
Temporary and Construction Phase Monitoring
Short-term monitoring solutions for temporary works, construction projects, and applications requiring analysis over a defined period.
Remote Monitoring and Alerts
Remote data collection systems that provide ongoing monitoring information, with automated alerts when predefined thresholds are exceeded.
Baseline Structural Assessments
Baseline structural assessments that establish reference data to help detect, track, and assess future changes in structural behaviour.
Interpretation and Engineering Analysis
Expert engineering analysis to identify trends, behavioural changes, and areas that may require further investigation, inspection, or maintenance.
Bespoke Monitoring System Design
Custom monitoring systems designed around the asset, project objectives, access constraints, and the specific measurement data your team needs.
Contact us today to request a quote and discuss your requirements. Our team is ready to help!
Data Collection and Engineering Analysis
Our engineers will interpret monitoring data to explain what it shows about an asset’s condition, behaviour, and performance. This helps clients spot changes, investigate potential concerns, and understand where further action may be required.
Our analysis can support:
- Structural performance assessment
- Historical and ongoing trend analysis
- Movement tracking
- Load behaviour analysis
- Identification of defects or behavioural changes
- Early warning notifications
- Engineering recommendations
- Asset performance reporting
These findings give asset owners and operators clear evidence to support decisions around inspection, maintenance, intervention, and wider asset management.
What Can Our Reporting Include?
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Real-time monitoring dashboards |
Automated reports and threshold alerts |
Historical monitoring trend analysis |
AI-supported prediction models |
Technical reports and maintenance recommendations |
Safe Installation in Difficult-to-Access Locations
Monitoring equipment must often be installed in locations that are difficult or impractical to reach using conventional access methods. Our specialist access teams can safely install and maintain equipment using:
- IRATA rope access
- Confined space access
- MEWPs
- Pontoon and over-water access
- Mobile scaffold towers
- RYA-compliant safety boats
By combining expert structural health monitoring with our specialist access capability, we can provide a more integrated solution for complex installations while minimising disruption and reducing the need for multiple contractors.
Why Choose Stroma Specialist Access?
- Integrated monitoring, inspection, and specialist access services
- Bespoke solutions using advanced sensor and data gathering technology
- Experienced engineering teams delivering projects across the UK
- Remote monitoring with clear engineering reports and recommendations
- Safe installation in difficult-to-access locations with minimal disruption
Whether you need temporary monitoring during construction, long-term asset monitoring, or a bespoke system for a critical structure, our experienced team can help!
Request a Quote
Frequently Asked Questions
What is structural health monitoring?
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is the continuous or periodic measurement of a structure's behaviour and condition using sensors and data acquisition systems. It can be used to identify movement, deterioration, or changes in performance, giving engineers evidence to inform inspections, maintenance, and asset management decisions.
How does structural health monitoring differ from traditional inspections?
A traditional structural inspection assesses an asset at a specific point in its service life. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), on the other hand, collects measurements continuously or at planned intervals, allowing engineers to track how the structure behaves over longer periods and under changing loads, operating conditions, and environmental influences.
What are the benefits of structural health monitoring?
Continuous monitoring gives asset owners a clearer view of structural performance and any changes in condition, with benefits including:
- Continuous assessment of structural performance
- Early detection of defects and deterioration
- Improved public and asset safety
- Minimal reliance on frequent manual inspections
- Lower inspection costs
- Reduced risk of unplanned closures
- Evidence-led maintenance planning
- Extended asset lifespan
- Reduced whole-life asset costs
- Support for regulatory compliance
- Greater confidence in asset condition
With continuous evidence available, maintenance and engineering teams can identify where attention is needed and prioritise inspection, maintenance, or intervention more effectively.
What types of structures can be monitored?
Structural health and integrity monitoring solutions can support bridges, buildings, rail and highway infrastructure, tunnels, retaining walls, marine structures, industrial facilities, heritage assets, concrete and steel structures, temporary works, earthworks and embankments. Monitoring can also be used during construction phases or following an impact or extreme weather event.
What sensors are used in structural health monitoring systems?
At Stroma, our systems can incorporate a wide range of structure monitoring technology and sensors depending on the asset and data required, including:
- Strain gauges
- Crack monitoring sensors
- Tilt sensors and inclinometers
- Accelerometers
- Vibration monitoring
- Displacement monitoring
- Deflection monitoring
- Load monitoring
- Temperature sensors
- Environmental sensors
- Wireless monitoring systems
- Remote data logging
- Automated alarm systems
Can monitoring systems provide real-time alerts?
Yes. Remote monitoring systems can collect readings continuously and issue automated alerts when measurements reach or exceed predefined thresholds. This allows nominated teams to review significant changes and decide whether the asset requires further investigation or action.
Is structural integrity monitoring suitable for temporary or permanent installations?
Yes. We can design systems for short-term monitoring during temporary construction or investigation works, as well as permanent installations designed to monitor an asset over its operational life.
Can structural health monitoring be combined with bridge inspections and NDT?
Yes. Structural health monitoring can form part of a wider structural assessment programme alongside non-destructive testing (NDT), visual inspections, bridge inspections, and other investigative techniques. Combining different sources of information can provide engineers and asset owners with a more complete understanding of asset condition and structural behaviour.
How often is structural integrity monitoring data reviewed?
The review frequency depends on the asset, the purpose of the monitoring, and the level of risk. Systems can collect data continuously and issue automated threshold alerts, while Stroma can schedule engineering reviews and reporting to suit the requirements of the monitoring programme.