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smartBRIDGE Hamburg
The Digital Twin of the Köhlbrand Bridge
CustomQuake – part of the Kruso family - in collaboration with the bridge engineers from MKP and WTM, is behind the development of the digital twin of Hamburg's Köhlbrand Bridge. This pilot project, initiated by the Hamburg Port Authority, aims to digitize the traditional, manual assessment of the bridge's condition in accordance with the DIN 1076 standard. With its increasing age, the Köhlbrand Bridge is a vital traffic artery in the Port of Hamburg, facing significant maintenance challenges.
From ambitions to technological innovation
The project's ambition was to realize a vision for the future of bridge maintenance. It included the development of a multi-layer, web-based, three-dimensional platform to present a user-friendly interface. This interface visualizes a seamless 3D model, in which all relevant data is organized hierarchically. The project integrated data collected from sensory monitoring using more than 500 sensors, along with data from Building Information Modeling (BIM), standard inspection data according to DIN 1076, and special diagnostic measures, all combined in a comprehensive monitoring effort.
smartBRIDGE Hamburg
Explicit UX with 3D models
The SmartBRIDGE Hamburg project focused on improving the maintenance of the Köhlbrand Bridge while also evaluating how various concepts can be applied to other structures. By combining sensor-based data collection with other sources of information, and by visualizing these on an innovative 3D model, a renewed user experience was created, providing maintenance personnel with access to continuously updated data about the bridge's condition. The application, developed through interdisciplinary collaboration, manages to hide its complexity while providing specialists such as bridge engineers and inspectors with in-depth insights into data, supported by usability tests and focus group feedback.
Merging intuitive design with complex data
The integration of various heterogeneous data sources in the SmartBRIDGE Hamburg project was carried out through a series of interfaces into a digital twin, where data was collected and aggregated. Additionally, an intuitive, navigable, and synchronized frontend was developed, combining a 2D web layer with placed information in a 3D model. This made it possible to present data streams, condition indicators, damages, and similar in a realistic manner, making the user interface accessible and user-friendly.
Exploring components
The SmartBRIDGE Hamburg project employs a user-friendly and intuitive frontend system, which combines a clear 2D web layer with in-depth information in a 3D model. This system makes use of the "Point-of-Interest" concept, providing a clear and realistic view of important data such as condition indicators, damages, and similar, making it easy for the user to navigate and understand complex data.
The SmartBRIDGE Hamburg project consists of:
conditionCONTROL, a web-based application for general data management.
arCONTROL, an Augmented Reality (AR) version, offering an in-depth and interactive view of condition information directly on-site.
Reallabor, a public and demonstrative version, offering guided tours and exciting, commented events for a hands-on experience.
Steps towards the future
SmartBRIDGE Hamburg integrates traditional inspection methods with new digital tools, enabling an efficient merging and analysis of data from various sources. This provides a comprehensive and consolidated condition assessment in a single workflow. With its innovative approach, SmartBRIDGE Hamburg marks an important step in the development of new inspection methods within the construction industry.
