France Launch Sircapass Project to Monitor 250,000 Bridges

Published on May 22, 2024

As part of the France 2030 investment plan, SilMach, a company based in Bizontine, has been selected to lead the Sircapass project, aimed at monitoring the country’s 250,000 bridges using passive sensors. The initiative, supported by BPI France with funding of approximately 1.7 million euros, involves a public-private consortium including AIA Engineering, Cerema, Inria, and supported by Vinci Autoroutes.

SilMach’s technology uses autonomous MEMS-based (Micro Electromechanical Systems) shock sensors, which operate without batteries and are capable of detecting impacts, monitoring structural fatigue, exceptional overloads, and cracks. These microsensors are part of a shift from reactive to preventive maintenance strategies for infrastructure, moving away from traditional human inspections.

The project introduces cost-effective monitoring tools and methods that enhance the maintenance and safety of infrastructure. SilMach’s sensors include three variants:

• A standard model with a visual indicator,
• A variant with short-range RFID passive chip interrogation,
• A radio-linked version using LoraWAN communication for long-term remote monitoring. This setup ensures continuous data capture and storage at the sensor level, providing ongoing access to vital safety information.

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