PSI - Issue 78

Fausto Alimenti et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 1326–1333

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users and inspectors (Grimaz et al., 2025a). These tests also highlighted the potential of modern technologies for analyzing road scenarios. Regarding tunnels, trials with specific equipment for technical triage in existing tunnels have shown that VISIT inspections allow for proper and cost-effective assessments, without needing lifting platforms and requiring minor traffic restrictions (Grimaz et al., 2025b). The methodology outlines semeiotic parameters and assessment procedures tailored for tunnels. For bridges, the application of the VISIT methodology for bridge safety surveillance using drones has demonstrated its ability to provide high inspection details without traffic restrictions or costly equipment, ensuring safety for all involved (Grimaz et al., 2024b). The tests also emphasized the synergistic work between bridge inspectors and drone pilots, enabling the reconstruction of highly detailed three-dimensional scenarios. The methodology for bridges identifies specific semeiotic parameters and assessment procedures. Finally, the general application of the prototype case, specifically on the road SS13 "Pontebbana," demonstrated the methodology's effectiveness in acquiring and managing inspection data for a standardized situational overview for ANSFISA. The positive results confirmed the project's potential to define supervision and intervention strategies through a unique and innovative system, supporting ANSFISA in its vigilance objectives for improving road traffic safety on the Italian network. 3. The italian bridge guidelines The Italian road network, characterized by a complex orography, often features areas of high seismicity. Moreover, many bridges and viaducts exhibit a peculiar state of decay primarily due to their advanced age of construction. The challenge is further compounded by the absence or non-uniformity of infrastructural safety management systems (SMS). To address these issues, the Italian Higher Council of Public Works has issued the "Guidelines for the classification and management of risk, for the evaluation of safety and for the monitoring of existing bridges," adopted with Ministerial Decree no. 578 of 17/12/2020 (Capogna et al., 2023). These guidelines provide a standardized methodology for analyzing the safety and managing bridges at a national level.

Fig. 2. Schematization of the Levels of the guidelines for the classification and management of risk, for the evaluation of safety and for the monitoring of existing bridges procedure (De Bartolomeo et al., 2023).

The Guidelines propose a multi-level analysis approach, where the assessment of structures is conducted with increasing levels of detail and complexity (see Fig.2). This approach ensures a uniform risk management system. The levels are structured as follows: Level 0 involves the comprehensive geolocation and census of all bridges. Level 1 then proceeds with visual inspections and the detailed completion of defect forms. A central focus of the Guidelines, Level 2, involves the determination of an "Overall Attention Class" for each bridge (Cutrone et al., 2023). This class is derived from the combination of four distinct Attention Classes (AC) related to different risk types: structural and foundational risk, seismic risk, landslide risk, and hydraulic risk. The determination of each Attention Class combines hazard, vulnerability, and exposure factors, utilizing logical classes and operators, rather than numerical indices for precise risk calculations. This overall attention class provides an approximate estimate of risk factors, serving to