In the late 1980’s, two bridge research projects were conducted at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The first was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and required the implementation of an efficient technique for developing highway bridge load ratings based on load test results. The second project was funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and furthered this initial research to include recording the dynamic behavior of various bridge types. Approximately 50 highway bridges were tested and evaluated during the course of these two projects, and hardware and software delivered to each of the sponsors.
Based on the results of this extensive experience, the key personnel from the two projects founded Bridge Diagnostics, Inc. (BDI) in October, 1989. BDI has gone on to test and evaluate all types of structures around the U.S., Asia, Middle East, India, and Australia.
In addition to providing load testing and analysis services, BDI manufactures the BDI-STS which has been developed specifically for the purpose of testing highway bridges and other structures subjected to live load. Customers all over the U.S., Asia, India, and Middle East are currently using the STS to perform their own testing and evaluation. In addition to diagnostic testing, BDI has designed and implemented many long-term monitoring systems for structures of all types.