Application of the VR Technology in Bridge Health Monitoring

Three-dimensional (3D) panoramic virtual reality (VR) technology can offer users a realistic scene reconstruction and immersive experience, by integrating the bridge measurement data collected from the structural health monitoring system with the operational environment using this technology, managers can accurately diagnose the structural condition of bridges. Therefore, this technique is valuable in enhancing the efficacy and quality of bridge maintenance practices. Using an actual bridge as a case study, a software system is developed for bridge health monitoring, which integrates 3D panoramic VR technology with a Browser/Server (B/S) framework. Detailed explanations of the functional modules within the software system are provided, along with a discussion on the critical considerations of VR technology during the development of each functional module. The results show that the 3D panoramic VR technology completely meets the needs of real-time monitoring, information management and virtual roaming in bridge operation and maintenance, which has broad application prospect in the field of civil engineering.