On March 19, 2025, Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister of Digital and Transport (BMDV), together with State Secretary Barbara Meyer, District Administrator Udo Witschas, Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD Dresden University of Technology, Prof. Steffen Marx, Director of TUD's Institute of Concrete Structures, and Jörg Drews from the project partner Hentschke Bau GmbH, opened a 45-meter-long and 4.5-meter-wide research bridge in Bautzen.

This research platform openLAB is the first of its kind: The research bridge is equipped with the latest sensor technology, designed to enable seamless monitoring in real-time. A total of over 200 sensors were installed to measure temperature, incline, movement and other factors influencing the structural integrity. The use of artificial intelligence enables damage to be detected early so that maintenance measures can be initiated. The prestressed concrete bridge is part of the research project “Automated assessment of monitoring data for infrastructure constructions (IDA-KI),” which is coordinated by TUD and funded by BMDV as part of the Modernity Fund (mFUND) innovation initiative.

Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing: “Artificial intelligence is a game changer, also for the maintenance of our roads and bridges. By using the latest sensor technology and AI-supported analysis methods, we can monitor the condition of bridges in real-time. This not only makes our transportation infrastructure safer, but also enables more efficient and cost-effective maintenance. The project in Bautzen provides valuable insights for the modernization of our bridges and the renovation of our entire infrastructure.”

State Secretary Barbara Meyer: “The openLAB offers us a great opportunity at just the right time, because in Saxony we are currently realizing how important a functioning transport infrastructure is. With the bridge twin, we are launching a new era for bridges in Saxony today that can set an example for the whole of Germany! The focus is on the spirit of innovation, cutting-edge research, future viability and – most importantly, of course – greater safety in our bridge structures. I wish Prof. Marx and his team every success with this project. I look forward to seeing your results. I would particularly like to thank Dr. Andreas Wissing, Federal Minister of Digital and Transport, for actively supporting this project and, with it, the Free State and the Lusatian mining area!”

Udo Witschas, District Administrator of Bautzen: “The new research bridge is further proof that companies in Upper Lusatia can compete at the top in the field of research and innovation. It also represents a huge economic potential for our region. The new bridge, this successful collaboration between science and practice, also shows what the region can expect from the establishment of the construction research center Living Art of Building LAB.”

Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden: “With the founding of the TUD | Lusatia Campus, we are taking responsibility for shaping structural change in Lusatia.” which also includes living labs such as openLAB. These are essential for scientific progress, since they enable us to test innovative technologies under real-life conditions and develop practical solutions. We also want to use technological developments to improve essential sectors for society, such as bridge construction, and create a sense of trust. The openLAB also offers unique opportunities for basic research in Civil Engineering. By closing ranks with the worlds of politics, business, science and the public, we can provide impetus in the region that can develop into innovations at a grassroots level. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved for creating a scientific platform for sustainable innovations in construction, thereby strengthening the region as a location for cutting-edge research and high-tech industries.”

Prof. Steffen Marx, Director of the Institute of Concrete Structures at TUD: We created a real-world laboratory that is the first of its kind in the world with the openLAB research bridge in Bautzen. Researchers can develop digital twins and innovative monitoring technologies here. Our goal is to maintain structures in a more forward-looking way in the future, thus ensuring sustainable mobility.”

Jörg Drews, Hentschke Bau GmbH: “As a regionally-based company with supra-regional operations, innovations in the construction industry are particularly relevant for us. This is especially true when innovations that can contribute to the further development of digital business models emerge from collaborations with science and research. These not only enable Hentschke to actively shape the digitization of the infrastructure, but also to establish itself as a driver of innovation in Lusatia.”

A live demonstration vividly showcased the research bridge's sensors and its digital twin: A rail car weighing several tons crossed the bridge to simulate various load scenarios. The built-in sensors provided valuable real-time data for scientific analysis. Any critical status changes can be displayed by the digital twin, a virtual image of the bridge.

IDA-KI research project

The IDA-KI joint research project was launched on January 1, 2022 under the management of TUD's Institute of Concrete Structures. The project funding amounts to approximately EUR 3.8 million. The project consortium aims to provide the scientific basis for reliable, near real-time assessment of the conditions of bridge structures. This is a prerequisite for predictive, proactive maintenance management. The concept of the digital twin is used for this purpose. In addition, the project should make a lasting contribution to structural change in the coal-mining region of Lusatia.

About the project consortium

The consortium, consisting of TUD’s Institute of Concrete Structures, the Institute of Digital and Autonomous Construction at Hamburg University of Technology, MKP GmbH and Hentschke Bau GmbH, brings together many years of experience in the fields of digital construction planning, construction monitoring, AI-based fault diagnostics and engineering condition assessment. To ensure that the methods developed can be applied in a wide range of practical applications, associated partners from the construction industry will serve on the project advisory board. These include the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute, and Autobahn GmbH.

About the BMDV's mFUND funding program

With the mFUND initiative, the BMDV has been funding research and development projects for data-based digital applications for the mobility of the future since 2016. In addition to financial support, mFUND supports networking between stakeholders from politics, business and research with various event formats, as well as access to the BMDV data portals. In its episode to be released on March 19, 2025, “mCAST – The Innovation Podcast“, the monthly podcast of the mFUND accompanying research, will take an in-depth look at the topic of predictive maintenance and the openLAB research bridge in Bautzen.

Contact: 

Matthias Fejes
Press Officer of TU Dresden
Tel: +49 351 463 32398
Email: 

BMDV Press Office
Tel: +49 30 18-300-7200
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