GOAlytics is developing a smart platform that uses artificial intelligence to make the inspection and maintenance of bridges safer, more efficient and more predictive.
Digital transformation is making its way into the management of critical infrastructure. The GOAlytics project – Analytics and AI for Bridge Management, led by BETAR in partnership with the University of Minho and CCG/ZGDV and co-funded by COMPETE 2030, aims to develop a smart platform that combines artificial intelligence, sensors, computer vision and 3D visualisation to make bridge inspection and maintenance safer, more efficient and more predictive.
A new approach to infrastructure management
The inspection and maintenance of bridges continue to rely heavily on time-consuming and labour-intensive on-site processes, which entail high costs and expose technicians to risks. The GOAlytics project was launched precisely to address these challenges by developing an advanced digital solution capable of transforming the way in which this infrastructure is monitored and managed.
Building on BETAR’s experience in infrastructure asset management and the GOA platform, the operation aims to overcome the limitations of current models by placing a smart digital model at the heart of the inspection process. As Sérgio Costa, a partner at BETAR and head of GOAlytics, explains, “the project equips our asset management tool, GOA, with new capabilities, integrating artificial intelligence, computer vision, predictive analytics and photorealistic 3D visualisation into a single platform”. The solution will be capable of learning from historical data, anticipating deterioration patterns, identifying anomalies and supporting real-time decision-making.
It is this transformation that Sérgio Costa summarises when he states, “GOAlytics is an R&D project that aims to transform the way bridges and other transport infrastructure structures are inspected and managed.”
Artificial intelligence in the service of prevention
The platform will integrate a range of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, IoT sensors, computer vision, natural language processing and interactive 3D visualisation.
One of the key distinguishing features will be the architecture based on specialised intelligent agents, coordinated by a conversational assistant powered by large-scale language models. This system will enable the interpretation of information from multiple sources, combining drone imagery, 3D models generated by laser technology (LiDAR) and thermal data, automatically identifying cracks, corrosion, deformations and other signs of structural degradation.
According to Sérgio Costa, the platform “will enable remote inspections with automatic anomaly detection, anticipate structural degradation and support maintenance decisions via a conversational assistant. The result will be safer, faster and more efficient infrastructure management, reducing technicians’ exposure to risks in the field and maximising project owners’ resources.”
In addition to detecting problems, the solution will develop models to predict the evolution of structures, contributing to more effective preventive maintenance and better resource management.
From research to the international market
The project is currently at an early stage of development, involving research, experimental development, prototyping and validation in a real-world operational environment, through pilot schemes on bridges managed by BETAR. The project starts at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 and aims to reach TRL 7, demonstrating a fully functional prototype in a real-world context.
For Sérgio Costa, the support from COMPETE 2030 plays a decisive role in realising this ambition. “Given the size of the domestic market, it would quite simply not be possible to aim for solutions with this level of technological ambition without this support.”
He also highlights the strategic impact of the initiative on the company’s internationalisation: “GOAlytics will raise the standard of the tools available to national project owners, but, above all, it makes us competitive – and technological leaders – in much larger markets where we have begun to operate, such as Brazil. Without COMPETE 2030, entering these markets would be much more difficult; with it, GOA is positioning itself on a par with the very best in the world in this field.”
By combining scientific research, technological development and real-world validation, GOAlytics aims to establish itself as a leader in smart infrastructure management, contributing to more efficient, safe and sustainable management and maintenance of bridges and strengthening the competitiveness of Portuguese engineering in international markets.
Links
BETAR | Website
Universidade do Minho | Website
CCG/ZGDV | Website
28 July 2026
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