Russia Patents Its First Digital Twin for Bridges
Researchers in Irkutsk have patented the country’s first digital twin for bridge monitoring, a system that detects flaws, forecasts risks, and helps extend the life of critical infrastructure.
A team from Irkutsk State Transport University has secured Russia’s first patent for an “aggregated digital twin of a bridge crossing.”
The mathematical model analyzes sensor data to detect defects, assess remaining structural lifespan under load, and predict potential emergency scenarios.
With this technology, bridge conditions can be tracked in real time. Key indicators such as actual load capacity and remaining service life are continuously monitored, helping extend infrastructure lifespan and saving tens of millions of rubles (hundreds of thousands of dollars).
Russia’s Federal Railway Agency (Roszheldor) plans to introduce digital twins on two bridges in the Irkutsk region — across the Olkha and Ushakovka rivers — in 2025–2026. The system may also be installed on the Lena River bridge in Ust-Kut. Over time, authorities aim to equip all critical infrastructure in the region with digital twins, marking a broader step toward digitizing Russia’s transport network.
