Quantum sensors could spot hidden damage in the thousands of US bridges rated ‘structurally deficient’

Sensors cannot replace bridge inspectors. They can help engineers see corrosion, cracks, scour and weak magnetic signals that eyes alone can miss.

By: Alex Krasnok, Florida International University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 19, 2026

Words: 1,414

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Alex Krasnok, Florida International University

Every bridge has parts that drivers never see: steel buried in concrete, welds tucked under girders, and soil packed around foundations below the waterline. A bridge can look fine from the road while rust spreads around steel hidden inside concrete. A small fatigue crack can lengthen. A flood can wash soil away from a pier. By the time cracks, loose concrete or lane closures appear, the cheapest repair window …

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