Optical fibres throughout the concrete will transmit light. As the beams are stressed, the properties of the light change. These changes are picked up by the sensors and relayed to a data collection box. NMSU researchers will collect and study the information and share it with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

'This monitoring system can provide information on the effects of stress long before signs of fatigue begin to show visibly, allowing engineers to address potential problems before they become serious and costly,' said professor of civil engineering Rola Idriss, who is leading the project. Ultimately, Idriss said, the technology should lead to better bridge designs.