Why most structurally deficient bridges still go unmonitored

With more than 600,000 highway bridges in the United States—and 40,000 rated in poor condition—traditional approaches to inspection and monitoring aren’t enough. “In 2020, only 66 bridges in the U.S. had structural health monitoring systems installed. And often, those were brand-new showcase bridges—exactly the ones least in need of it,” Scott highlighted.

Roebling Labs flips that model. Their Smart Bridge in a Box concept is designed to be affordable, scalable, and deployable on the bridges that need it most—the aging structures that carry millions of people every day.

Smart Bridge in a Box™ on site within a weatherproof enclosure. It operates autonomously. The system is operated remotely via a cellular modem, is solar powered, and doesn’t require human operators onsite.

The remote operation taking place at another bridge in the United States.

Early demonstrations, including work on Minnesota’s Robert Street Bridge—a Bentley iTwin demonstration project—show how video-based monitoring can integrate seamlessly with Bentley’s digital twin technology. By layering Roebling’s video sensor data onto a 3D model in iTwin, bridge managers could one day draw a sensor directly into their model and receive live updates within days.

This vision of integration is why Roebling Labs joined the Bentley iTwin Activate program and embraced the Bentley Ecosystem Catalog, which offers a range of solutions developed by partners that extend the functionality of Bentley products or platforms, including SaaS offerings, desktop applications, or plug-ins. “We view Bentley as a valuable distribution partner,” Scott said. “Bridge owners already work with Bentley software—why not make it as easy as clicking a button in their digital twin to add live monitoring?”

How Bentley’s ecosystem helps startups scale infrastructure solutions

For Roebling Labs, becoming part of Bentley’s ecosystem is not just about visibility—it’s about multiplying impact. By joining the Bentley Solutions Catalog, their innovation reaches bridge owners already familiar with Bentley platforms, making adoption easier and faster. At the same time, Bentley enriches its offerings with a new layer of innovation that responds directly to urgent market needs. And for the industry as a whole, this collaboration lowers barriers to adopting advanced monitoring, turning what could be an isolated startup solution into a shared capability across infrastructure projects.

Scott compares it to the rise of app stores. “Bentley provides the platform and the relationships with infrastructure owners,” he explained. “That makes it possible for startups like us to innovate faster and bring real solutions to the industry—just like the App Store did for software.” The implications extend beyond the U.S. In regions where resources for infrastructure maintenance are scarce, an affordable, portable monitoring system could make the difference between preventive repair and catastrophic failure.

Expanding adoption through visibility and pilots

For Roebling Labs, success in the coming year will be about awareness and adoption. Demonstrations, pilot projects, and visibility through Bentley’s ecosystem will help prove the value of this innovative approach. “For each bridge owner that reaches out after seeing our solution in the catalog, it’s win-win,” Scott noted.

With that mindset, Roebling Labs isn’t just building smarter bridges—it’s helping to build a safer, more resilient infrastructure future, hand in hand with Bentley and its ecosystem of innovation