Smarter Bridge Foundations: Integrating Geotechnical Data and Monitoring into Design with DAARWIN

Bridge

Bridges are among the most demanding civil engineering structures. Their safety and performance rely heavily on the interaction between superstructure and foundations, which in turn depend on complex and often uncertain geotechnical conditions. Unlike other infrastructures, bridges are particularly sensitive to long-term settlement, scour, and lateral ground displacements, where small deviations can have major structural consequences.

Traditional geotechnical approaches often rely on conservative design parameters, limited by sparse site investigations and empirical assumptions. While this methodology ensures safety, it frequently results in overdesign, unnecessary material use, and increased costs. Moreover, once the bridge is under construction, there is often a disconnect between field monitoring data and the original numerical models that informed the design. Closing this gap is critical to ensure performance, optimize resources, and improve safety.

This is where DAARWIN, the geotechnical data management and modeling platform developed by SAALG Geomechanics, plays a key role—enabling engineers to integrate investigation data, numerical models, and real-time monitoring in a single connected environment.

The Geotechnical Challenges of Bridge Projects

Designing and building bridge foundations involves a unique set of geotechnical challenges:

• Foundation Settlement: Piles and barrettes must be designed to minimize both total and differential settlement, which can affect deck alignment and long-term serviceability.

• Scour and Groundwater Influence: River crossings introduce additional uncertainties, where soil erosion and fluctuating water tables impact stability.

• Soil Variability: Highly heterogeneous soils across piers and abutments make uniform performance difficult to achieve.

• Monitoring Disconnect: Data from pile load tests, settlement markers, or inclinometers are rarely used to update numerical models in real time, limiting the value of monitoring programs.

  
  

DAARWIN directly addresses these issues by linking borehole, lab, in-situ, and monitoring data into digital ground models that remain alive throughout the lifecycle of the bridge.

The Data-Driven Approach to Bridge Foundations with DAARWIN

1. Centralized Data Management

With DAARWIN, engineers can digitize and centralize geotechnical information—from borehole logs to laboratory and in-situ data—eliminating fragmented reports and creating a reliable baseline for numerical simulations.

2. Sensitivity Analysis for Design Optimization

DAARWIN’s high-performance computing allows engineers to run thousands of simulations in parallel, performing sensitivity analysis to identify which soil parameters most influence bridge settlement and stability. This ensures design focus on the parameters that matter most, reducing uncertainty and overdesign.

3. Backanalysis During Construction

During foundation testing and early stages of construction, DAARWIN enables real-time backanalysis by comparing monitoring data with model predictions. Pile load test results, for example, can be used to recalibrate soil stiffness or strength parameters, ensuring that the design reflects actual site conditions.

4. Continuous Monitoring Integration

Bridge foundations are subject to long-term risks such as settlement, scour, or seismic loading. DAARWIN integrates real-time monitoring data (settlement gauges, inclinometers, pore pressure sensors) into numerical models, creating a live feedback loop:

• Detect anomalies early (e.g., unexpected pile settlement).

• Update model predictions continuously.

• Provide owners with transparent, traceable records of design vs. performance.

  
  

Benefits of Using DAARWIN in Bridge Projects

• Optimized Design

  • Avoid overly conservative pile/barrette dimensions.

  • Save material costs without compromising safety.

• Reduced Uncertainty

  • Calibrate parameters with real monitoring data.

  • Lower risk of long-term settlement or deformation.

• Faster Decision-Making

  • Automated workflows reduce design cycles from weeks to hours.

  • Monitoring alerts enable proactive intervention.

• Traceability and Transparency

  • Full audit trail of design assumptions, model updates, and monitoring results.

  • Improves communication between designers, contractors, and owners.

Practical Applications

Case 1: Bridge over Soft Clays

Using DAARWIN, a viaduct project over clay deposits was modeled with multiple stiffness scenarios. Sensitivity analysis showed stiffness variation was the dominant factor. Monitoring data from settlement plates was then used in backanalysis, reducing predicted settlement by 25% and avoiding costly redesign of piles.

Case 2: River Crossing with Scour Risk

Bridge piers founded in sandy soils were monitored with vibration sensors and pore pressure gauges integrated in DAARWIN. Anomalies triggered early warnings during high-flow events, allowing protective countermeasures before damage occurred. Updated FEM models confirmed scour depth predictions stayed within safety thresholds.

Case 3: Load Testing for Foundation Validation

Pile load test results were uploaded into DAARWIN and compared with FEM predictions. Backanalysis adjusted soil strength parameters until model and measurements aligned, validating assumptions and reducing contingency factors in design.

Conclusion

Bridge engineering demands robust geotechnical design and continuous verification. Traditional methods, while safe, often lead to conservative overdesign and underutilize valuable monitoring data.

By using DAARWIN, engineers can integrate investigation, design, and monitoring into a continuous, data-driven workflow. This enables smarter foundation optimization, real-time recalibration, and transparent performance tracking.

The result: safer bridges, optimized designs, and reduced costs. In an industry where uncertainty often dominates, DAARWIN brings clarity, efficiency, and resilience to the foundations of tomorrow’s bridges.

Learn more about DAARWIN and request a demo: https://www.saalg.com