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Novel structural monitoring solution for safe and sustainable post-tensioned infrastructure

Project description

Building a smarter structural health monitoring tool

Detecting damage and estimating deterioration of civil infrastructures is important to prevent disasters. The collapse of the Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa in 2018 is one of the most recent such tragedies. But more than 100 bridges have collapsed since 2000, making structural health monitoring (SHM) solutions very useful. In this context, the EU-funded PT-SMS project is developing a new SHM solution for post-tensioned (PT) concrete, which is used in building, bridges, dams and other infrastructure. Using a Big Data platform and artificial intelligence, the project has optimised a strain-gauge-based sensor system optimised for PT monostrand monitoring. Not only is it easy to install, it is cheaper and more accurate and durable than current market solutions.

Objective

Collapsing buildings, bridges and other infrastructure are unfortunately still a common occurrence. Since 2000 more than 100 bridges have collapsed killing over 700 people and costing billions of euros in lawsuits, repairs and replacements. The recent Genoa bridge collapse is a tragic example. Many of the concrete infrastructure in Europe does not have structural health monitoring solutions (SHM) in place as a result of the high complexity and costs of available solutions. PT-SMS innovation project aims to commercialize a novel Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) solution for post-tensioned concrete. Post-tensioning is a popular method to strengthen concrete buildings, bridges, dams and other infrastructure. 3S'TECH has developed a unique strain-gauge based sensor system optimized for post-tensioned (PT) monostrand monitoring that is easy-to-install, low-cost, 95% accurate and durable (20+ years), thereby providing superior performance over current market solutions. Backed by a Big Data Platform and Artificial Intelligence, PT-SMS will allow infrastructure owners to ensure the safety of their structures while reducing OPEX by 25% through predictive maintenance. Construction companies on the other hand benefit from much higher control over the tensioning process drastically reducing delays and delivering high quality work. Its design simplicity allowing self-nstallation by PT construction workers will provide a fast path to market entry through partnerships with leading European PT companies such as VSL and Freyssinet. The SHM market for concrete is growing fast with bridges alone reaching 464 M€ and CAGR of 15.6%. Ptototype tests have already been successfully carried out at a VSL construction site. Upon full commercialization of our technology in 2021, 3S'TECH will establish a new niche market and grow its revenues from 0.92 M€ in the first year to over 5 M€ in the third year, reaching a ROI of 3.5 over the total expected investment of 0.9 M€.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

3S' TECH SOCIEDAD LIMITADA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
JOAN ALSINA 5
17003 GIRONA
Spain

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Este Cataluña Girona
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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