PSI - Issue 84

Irene Matteini et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 84 (2026) 677–685

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Using the information of reflected amplitude (signal intensity) recorded at each rebar (first layer) across the whole deck, qualitative deterioration maps (Figure 9) provide an overview of the possible areas at risk (red areas), potentially indicating delaminated areas, corroded reinforcement and / or areas with high moisture. Currently, these maps are obtained in post-processing and a minimally trained operator using the AI-assisted auto-picking function can create a 20 cm resolution reliable map in few hours after editing/validating automatic results.

3. Conclusions

This is an ongoing study. Even with the limited data collected to date, the results already highlight the potential of MCGPR as an effective tool for the monitoring and maintenance of concrete bridge decks. The research aims to develop a robust and repeatable methodology, demonstrating the reliability of MCGPR through periodic surveys and data comparison. This approach enables the identification of evolving deterioration patterns, early indicators of structural distress, and supports timely, and informed maintenance decisions, ultimately facilitating the integration of MCGPR into routine bridge assessment programs. Acknowledgements The authors extend their gratitude to Bogdan Nistor at Proceq Screening Eagle, Eng. Carlo Doimo of Anas Piemonte, for their valuable support and collaboration. References 1. Gkoumas, K., Marques Dos Santos, F.L., van Balen, M., Tsakalidis, A., Ortega Hortelano, A., Grosso, M., et al., 2019. Research and innovation in bridge maintenance, inspection and monitoring: A European perspective based on the Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS). Publications Office of the European Union, Report No.: EUR 29650 EN. 2. FIEC, 2023. Bridges: Tackling the maintenance deficit in Europe. Construction Europe, Mar–Apr 2023. Published by FIEC. 3. Barnes, C.L., Trottier, J.F., Forgeron, D., 2008. Improved concrete bridge deck evaluation using GPR by accounting for signal depth– amplitude effects. NDT&E International, 41(5), pp. 427–433. 4. Boldrin, P., Fornasari, G., Rizzo, E., 2024. Review of ground penetrating radar applications for bridge infrastructures. NDT, 2, pp. 53– 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/ndt2010004 5. Benedetto, L.A., Pajewski, L., 2015. Civil engineering applications of ground-penetrating radar. In: Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Springer International, New York, NY. 6. Goodman D, Novo A, Morelli G, Piro S, Kutrubes D, Lorenzo H. Advances in GPR imaging with multi‐channel radar systems from engineering to archaeology. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP) . DOI: https://doi.org/10.4133/1.3614128. 7. Lombardi, F., Griffiths, H.D., Lualdi, M., 2016. The influence of spatial sampling in GPR surveys for the detection of landmines and IEDs. In: 2016 European Radar Conference (EuRAD) , London, UK, pp. 322–325. 8. Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, Consiglio Superiore dei Lavori Pubblici, 2019. Linee guida per la classificazione e gestione del rischio, la valutazione della sicurezza ed il monitoraggio dei ponti esistenti. 9. Tronca, G., Tsalicoalou, I., Lehner, S., Catanzariti, G., 2018. Comparison of pulsed and stepped frequency continuous wave (SFCW) GPR systems. In: 2018 17th International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) , Rapperswil, Switzerland, pp. 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICGPR.2018.8441654. 10. A. Novo and M. Kaufmann, "A Novel Web-Based Software for Automated Cloud Processing, AI-Assisted Analysis and 3D Visualization of GPR Data," 2023 12th International Workshop on Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (IWAGPR) , Lisbon, Portugal, 2023, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/IWAGPR57138.2023.10329128. 11. ASTM International, 2022. ASTM D6087-22: Standard Test Method for Evaluating Asphalt-Covered Concrete Bridge Decks Using Ground Penetrating Radar. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.