From November 1 to 3, 2024, the National Forum on Intelligent Bridge Inspection and Safety Evaluation Technology, organized by the Intelligent Bridge Inspection Alliance and hosted by the China Merchants Chongqing Highway Engineering Inspection Center Co., Ltd. and the National Key Laboratory for Bridge Engineering Safety and Resilience, was successfully held in Chongqing. Datong Road and Bridge, as a council member, participated in this event. The forum attracted over 400 experts, scholars, and industry representatives from universities, design institutes, inspection units, and equipment manufacturers. The forum aimed to respond to the Ministry of Transport’s 2021 “Opinions on Further Improving the Safety and Durability of Highway Bridges,” focusing on lightweight monitoring technology for small and medium-span bridges to promote safe operations and technological innovation in bridge engineering in China.

The forum’s opening ceremony was held on the morning of November 2, with Professor He Shuanhai, Chairman of the Intelligent Bridge Monitoring Alliance, delivering the opening speech. Mr. Wu Mengjun, Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer of China Merchants Chongqing Communications Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., delivered a welcome speech, and Professor Zhao Yu, the Alliance Secretary-General, presided over the ceremony.

The conference scheduled 12 keynote reports and 37 sub-forum reports, taking place throughout the day on November 2 and the morning of November 3. In the main forum, 12 renowned bridge experts focused on lightweight monitoring for small and medium bridges. Topics included industrialized bridge construction, intelligent operation and maintenance, research on UHPC bridge decks, impact disaster prevention and control, intelligent visual inspection, transfer learning, and bridge deflection testing, offering attendees a wealth of research results and insights into future developments. Additionally, the sub-forums featured specialized reports on “Intelligent Inspection/Monitoring Technology for Bridges and Structures” and “Intelligent Evaluation Methods for Bridges and Structures,” providing in-depth analysis and research on various aspects of bridge engineering. Attendees also visited the Zengjiayan Bridge project and the technology exhibition hall, enhancing their understanding of the importance and future potential of lightweight monitoring technology in real-world applications.

Our company set up a promotional booth at the forum, showcasing our technical capabilities and research achievements in intelligent bridge operation and maintenance. We also introduced our digital products to the attending experts, including high-durability bridge sensors, load-measuring rings, intelligent screws, and smart bearings. During the exchanges, we engaged in in-depth discussions with multiple experts on topics such as the development of new bridge sensors, digital bridge components, and intelligent monitoring systems. These discussions not only enriched our product perspectives but also provided valuable academic guidance for our future R&D directions.

The forum concluded successfully on November 3. Datong will continue its efforts, forge ahead, and strengthen cooperation with experts, research institutions, design units, and maintenance agencies. We are committed to advancing lightweight monitoring technology for small and medium-sized bridges, contributing to the safety, intelligent operation, and technological progress of China’s bridge industry.