PSI - Issue 78

Domenico Cefalì et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 1358–1365

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1. Introduction The escalating focus on the resilience of road infrastructures, driven by the increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards, particularly seismic events, has spurred global scientific and technical communities to develop robust quantitative indicators for assessing bridges health. In this evolving context, the Bridge Health Index emerges as a crucial synthetic metric (Agredo Chávez et al., 2024; Iacovino et al., 2022; Saraswati and Thahir, 2025), capturing a structure’s functional, structural, and m anagerial condition, with emphasis on seismic risk. Internationally, BHIs development is driven by the urgent need for intelligent monitoring systems, sophisticated automated evaluation algorithms, and data-driven risk management policies that align with performance-based engineering principles and the digital twin paradigm applied to infrastructure. Different nations have approached bridge management with varying strategies. In Europe, managing aging bridge infrastructure is a significant challenge, leading to varied but converging approaches in BHI development (Agredo Chávez et al., 2024; Helmerich et al., 2008). Bridge inspection and condition assessment methodologies differ across nations, reflecting country-specific practices (Helmerich et al., 2008). The Bridge Condition Index (BCI) is central to Bridge Management Systems (BMS), despite challenges like data quality, mixed asset ownership, and diverse rating schemes (Agredo Chávez et al., 2024). Comparisons of European systems (e.g., Italy, Slovakia, Portugal) reveal distinct code prescriptions (Matos et al., 2023). Research underscores the need for performance-based ranking of bridges, integrating visual inspection data into a unified European management framework (Ivanković et al., 2021). Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is vital, especially for bridges in earthquake-prone European areas, as SHM systems aid rapid damage assessment and long-term integrity management, with validation ongoing (Rainieri et al., 2017). Collaborative European research aims to enhance bridge safety and optimize maintenance through robust, data-driven health indicators. In the United States, the strategic necessity of assessing bridge health is paramount, given its extensive inventory of aging highway bridges. Bridge Health Index serves as a critical component in the maintenance paradigm, driving efforts to minimize repair costs and prevent failures. Recent research emphasizes the vital role of SHM systems, with a thorough review of their implementation on US bridges over the past two decades highlighting sensor technologies, monitoring scopes, and significant outcomes. These monitoring programs are seen as essential for reducing rehabilitation costs and enhancing network resilience (Enshaeian et al., 2022; Rizzo and Enshaeian, 2021). Alongside SHM, bridge inspection planning remains fundamental to BHI. Current practices, primarily routine inspections mandated by the National Bridge Inspection Standards, are crucial for evaluating bridge safety and performance throughout their service life. However, limitations in these practices can impact data quality and subsequent decision-making. Research is actively exploring innovations to improve inspection planning, addressing challenges and identifying future needs to ensure more reliable information about bridge conditions (Abdallah et al., 2022). The overarching goal is to transition towards more data driven, objective assessments that optimize bridge management and uphold infrastructure safety across the nation. In Japan, the BHI is a critical component of infrastructure management, driven by an aging bridge stock and the inherent risks of seismic activity and typhoons. Research and implementation focus heavily on SHM and advanced BMS. Early efforts in SHM in Japan aimed at observing bridge behavior during extreme events like earthquakes and typhoons (Fujino and Siringoringo, 2008; Sumitro et al., 2001). This emphasis expanded to include comprehensive monitoring of long-span bridges, where continuous instrumentation verifies design assumptions and assesses structural behavior under environmental loads (Abé and Fujino, 2017). The evolution of structural monitoring in Japan highlights its role in vulnerability assessment and risk reduction for effective asset management (Fujino et al., 2019; Fujino and Siringoringo, 2008). Concurrently, Japan has developed sophisticated BMS, such as the J-BMS, designed to evaluate bridge performance and optimize rehabilitation strategies by minimizing costs and maximizing quality (Miyamoto et al., 2001; Miyamoto, 2013a). These systems leverage data from advanced monitoring, including innovative sensors and robust analysis, to inform decision-making (Miyamoto, 2013b; Sumitro et al., 2001). Overall, Japan's work on BHI demonstrates a holistic approach integrating cutting-edge monitoring technologies with strategic management systems to ensure long-term safety and resilience of its bridge infrastructure. This global trend underscores a fundamental shift from reactive repair to proactive, data-informed, and resilience-driven infrastructure management, where BHIs serve as critical tools for strategic planning and resource allocation.