A new study finds that bridges in North America and Africa face the highest risk of failure, and researchers suggest using satellite monitoring to help detect problems early and prevent collapses.
A scientist at the University of Houston is helping identify the world’s most vulnerable bridges and pointing to ways they could be repaired before failures occur.
In a global analysis of 744 bridges published in Nature Communications, Pietro Milillo and an international group of researchers found that bridges in North America are, on average, in the worst condition, with African bridges close behind. The team proposes a new approach to infrastructure protection that could reshape how risks are managed worldwide by tracking bridge stability from space and spotting early warning signs long before collapse becomes likely.
Aging infrastructure drives global risk
The elevated risk is closely linked to the age of many bridges, particularly in North America, where construction peaked during the 1960s. As a result, a large number of structures are now approaching or exceeding their original design lifespans. To address this challenge, the researchers point to space-based monitoring using Synthetic Aperture Radar, which can deliver frequent, high-resolution observations across the globe and draw on extensive historical data.
“Our research shows that spaceborne radar monitoring could provide regular oversight for more than 60 percent of the world’s long-span bridges,” said Milillo, co-author of the study and an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UH. “By integrating satellite data into risk frameworks, we can significantly lower the number of bridges classified as high-risk, especially in regions where installing traditional sensors is too costly.”
