The SMARTer Maintenance initiative (2021–2025) was a major interdisciplinary research and development project aimed at improving and streamlining the maintenance of Norway’s road network. A well-functioning road infrastructure is essential for safe and efficient travel, but maintaining aging structures is an increasing challenge. Many bridges from the 1960s and 1970s required careful maintenance to remain safe and functional rather than being replaced entirely.

Research Focus

As part of the project, Dr. Frida Liljefors investigated how to identify weaknesses and optimize preservation strategies for aging bridges. Her research focused on:

• Condition analysis of existing bridges – Identifying risk factors and structural issues.
• Quantifying uncertainties and calculating risk probabilities – Ensuring reliable decision-making.
• Sustainability in bridge maintenance – Implementing measures to repair and extend the lifespan of bridges rather than replacing them.
• Load-carrying capacity assessment – Evaluating how long bridges could safely remain in service and how to make maintenance cost-effective.

“At present, bridges in Norway are not collapsing, but how long will it be before this happens?
How can we streamline processes and make maintenance both efficient and sustainable?
I was delighted to contribute to this important work.”
— Dr. Frida Liljefors

Impact and Industry Relevance

By improving predictive maintenance strategies, this research contributed to Norway’s zero vision for fatalities and serious injuries and helped ensure cost-effective infrastructure management. The National Transport Plan highlighted a funding need of over NOK 1,000 billion for maintenance over the next decade. This research helped ensure that resources were used in the best possible way—repairing rather than replacing, reducing environmental impact, and making Norway’s infrastructure more resilient.

Project Benefits

• Developed cutting-edge methods for structural assessment and risk analysis.
• Strengthened expertise in infrastructure maintenance and sustainable preservation.
• Provided valuable insights for decision-makers and industry professionals in the road sector.

Collaboration

The project was a collaboration between:

• Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NRPA)
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• NTNU Technology Transfer AS