Infrastructure Inspection
Bridge inspections, road surveys, and asset management that actually works
Europe's infrastructure inspection market represents €1.5B+ annually, growing at 7.7% CAGR as ageing assets demand increasing attention. Yet the inspection process itself remains frustratingly inefficient. Bridge inspectors waste 2-4 hours per structure on double data entry—recording findings on paper or basic tablets in the field, then transcribing everything to bridge management systems back in the office. Photo management is worse: manually downloading hundreds of images, renaming them according to element codes, and matching them to specific defects. Geocadra eliminates these inefficiencies while supporting the rigorous inspection standards that different countries require.
The Hidden Costs of Infrastructure Inspection
Inefficient inspection processes don't just waste time—they affect maintenance decisions, budget allocation, and public safety.
Double Data Entry Wastes 2-4 Hours Per Bridge
A typical principal bridge inspection takes 4-6 hours on site. Back at the office, inspectors spend another 2-4 hours transcribing handwritten notes into the bridge management system, entering condition ratings for each element, and typing up defect descriptions. This isn't productive engineering work—it's clerical transcription that introduces errors and delays reporting.
Photo Management Consumes Senior Engineer Time
A single bridge inspection might generate 100+ photos documenting defects, element conditions, and overall views. Each photo needs to be downloaded from the camera, renamed according to element codes, and linked to specific defects in the management system. Senior engineers—who should be analysing conditions and recommending interventions—instead spend hours on photo administration.
Field Crews Carry Too Much Equipment
Traditional bridge inspection requires paper forms, cameras, reference manuals, measuring equipment, and safety gear. Inspectors juggle multiple devices while working in challenging positions—under bridges, on rope access, in confined spaces. Important observations get missed or poorly documented because writing notes while maintaining safety is difficult.
Different Countries Require Different Standards
German inspections follow DIN 1076 with specific element classifications and condition ratings. French inspections use IQOA methodology with different assessment criteria. UK highways authorities have their own requirements. Consultancies working across borders need systems that adapt to multiple inspection standards without starting from scratch each time.
Tracking Condition Changes Across Inspection Cycles
Effective asset management requires understanding how conditions change over time. Yet comparing current findings to previous inspections often means hunting through years of PDF reports, trying to identify whether that crack has grown or that corrosion has progressed. Without systematic historical comparison, maintenance decisions rely on incomplete information.
How Geocadra Streamlines Infrastructure Inspection
Designed for the specific challenges of bridge, road, and structure inspection, not adapted from generic forms software.
Element-Level Data Flows Directly to Your BMS
Capture condition ratings, defect observations, and element measurements in structured forms that match your bridge management system requirements. Export in formats ready for direct import—no transcription, no re-entry, no errors from manual data handling. What took 2-4 hours of office work now happens automatically.
Photos Automatically Linked to Elements and Defects
Every photo taken within Geocadra automatically attaches to the current inspection element with GPS coordinates, timestamp, and inspector identification. No more downloading, renaming, and matching hundreds of images. Export photo reports organised by element code, ready for your documentation system.
One Device Replaces Paper, Camera, and Manuals
Inspection forms, camera, reference materials, and reporting all live on one mobile device. Field crews work more safely with hands free for equipment operation and personal safety. Reference photos and previous inspection data available instantly when making condition assessments.
Templates for DIN 1076, IQOA, and UK Standards
Pre-built form templates follow the element classifications and rating scales of major inspection standards. Customise for specific client requirements or create your own templates for structures not covered by standard methodologies. One platform supports multiple inspection regimes.
Compare Conditions Across Inspection Cycles
View previous inspection findings alongside current observations. Identify elements with deteriorating conditions that need attention. Track defect progression over time with photo comparisons. Historical context improves engineering judgement and supports evidence-based maintenance recommendations.
Common Workflows
See how infrastructure inspection teams use Geocadra across their asset portfolios.
Bridge and Structure Condition Assessments
Systematic element-by-element inspection with standardised condition ratings. Document defects with precise locations, photos, and severity classifications. Export complete inspection reports ready for bridge management systems.
Road Surface Condition Surveys
Capture pavement condition data while driving survey routes. Record defect locations with GPS coordinates and photos. Generate condition maps showing deterioration patterns across the network.
Tunnel Inspection Documentation
Work through structured inspection sequences covering lining, drainage, mechanical, and electrical elements. Photo documentation of defects and condition indicators.
Defect Mapping and Condition Rating
Locate defects precisely with GPS coordinates and photo evidence. Apply standardised severity ratings and deterioration classifications. Track defect progression across inspection cycles for maintenance prioritisation.
Retaining Wall Inspections
Document wall geometry, drainage condition, and structural indicators. Capture movement monitoring points with precise coordinates. Track changes over time to identify walls requiring intervention.
Culvert and Drainage Structure Surveys
Systematic inspection of inlet, barrel, and outlet conditions. Document blockages, deterioration, and capacity issues. Photo evidence supports prioritisation of cleaning and repair programmes.
Measurable Results
Infrastructure inspection teams using Geocadra report significant efficiency improvements.
The most immediate impact is eliminating 2-4 hours of office work per bridge inspection through direct digital capture. Photo-to-defect matching—previously consuming hours of senior engineer time—happens automatically as inspectors work. The combined effect is completing the same inspection workload with substantially less administrative effort, freeing engineering time for the analysis and recommendations that actually matter. Audit documentation improves simultaneously: timestamped, geotagged evidence demonstrates inspection thoroughness in ways that paper records cannot match.
Compliance & Standards
Geocadra's templates support the inspection standards used across European infrastructure networks.
DIN 1076
The German bridge inspection standard DIN 1076 specifies element classifications, condition rating scales, and documentation requirements for regular and principal inspections. Geocadra's German bridge templates follow DIN 1076 structure, ensuring your inspection data meets the standard's requirements for element-level condition assessment.
IQOA
The French IQOA (Image Qualité des Ouvrages d'Art) methodology provides standardised assessment criteria for bridge structures. Our IQOA templates capture the specific ratings and observations the methodology requires, supporting consistent assessment across French infrastructure portfolios.
Eurocode
European structural design standards establish the technical basis for load capacity assessment and structural adequacy verification. Geocadra captures the field observations and measurements that support Eurocode-based structural evaluations, with export formats suitable for engineering analysis software.
UK Bridge Inspection Standards
UK highways authorities including Highways England specify inspection requirements through the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Our UK templates follow DMRB guidance for structure inspections, ensuring documentation meets the standards that highway maintainers require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Geocadra integrate with our bridge management system?
Yes. Export inspection data in formats compatible with major BMS platforms including Pontis, BRIDGIT, and custom systems. Element-level data exports match the structure your BMS expects, enabling direct import without manual reformatting.
How do inspectors use Geocadra during rope access work?
The mobile interface is designed for challenging field conditions. Inspectors can operate the app one-handed, use voice notes for detailed observations, and capture photos quickly.
How does historical comparison work?
Import previous inspection data or build history from your first Geocadra inspection. During subsequent inspections, view previous condition ratings and photos alongside current observations. Export reports showing condition changes over time for maintenance planning.
How do inspection teams coordinate on large structures?
Assign specific elements or structure zones to individual inspectors. See team progress in real-time when connected. Inspection data from all team members combines into unified structure records automatically.
What GPS accuracy is achievable for defect locations?
Standard smartphone GPS provides 3-5 metre accuracy, sufficient for most inspection purposes. For high-precision requirements, Geocadra supports external Bluetooth GPS receivers achieving sub-metre accuracy with RTK correction.
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