Why Cable-Supported Bridge Retrofits Need Wind Analysis
In June 2025, the International Bridge Conference (IBC) was held in Pittsburgh where bridge owners and engineers, senior policy makers, government officials,…
Sector: Bridges
Bridging The Gap Between Imagination and Engineering Excellence
Connecting communities
Bridges are more than just structures; they are essential lifelines that connect people, places, and possibilities. Our expertise in bridge aerodynamics empowers you to optimize the performance and safety of your bridge project, from initial planning and design to construction, operations, and rehabilitation.
We’re world leaders in advanced bridge analyses, modeling, and testing. We provide critical insights that help mitigate risks and enhance structural resilience against extreme weather conditions. With our interdisciplinary team of specialists, we enable you to create bridges that are not only functional but also stand the test of time.
Addressing bridge challenges
A beautifully designed bridge can shape the landscape of a city, but it is also highly susceptible to the impacts of its local climate. Wind, rain, ice and snow can have devastating impacts during construction and bridge operation if not properly accounted for. Navigating complex codes and standards, incorporating sustainable materials, all while managing project costs and timelines requires experience, expertise, and innovative solutions. Our job is to help balance the goals of bridge design with functionality and climate resilience.
The right insights at the right time
From planning to rehabilitation, we have the right experience and expertise to solve any bridge project challenge. Explore services for every stage of the bridge lifecycle.
Services
- Environmental assessment (air quality, microclimate, noise and vibration)
- Geoscience
Services
- Aerodynamic stability
- Wind loads
- Wind climate & site assessment
- Cable vibration
- Prediction and trajectory of falling ice from cables
- Damping system design (decks & cables)
- Fence vibration and noise
- Human comfort (wind, thermal, noise, air quality)
- Solar radiance studies
- Pedestrian-induced vibration
Services
- Stability studies for arch assembly
- Construction sequencing
- Dust and air quality monitoring
- Gust and weather forecasting
- Noise & vibration monitoring
Services
- Decision support for weather effects on bridge operations
- Ice/snow accretion and hazard studies
- Planned maintenance support (wind & tarping)
- Structural monitoring (short term or long term)
Services
- Bridge monitoring
- Decommissioning analysis (dust & air quality of demolition plan)
- Multi-hazard environmental impact assessment
- Rehabilitation plan for bridge and bridge components
Services
- Environmental assessment (air quality, microclimate, noise and vibration)
- Geoscience
Services
- Aerodynamic stability
- Wind loads
- Wind climate & site assessment
- Cable vibration
- Prediction and trajectory of falling ice from cables
- Damping system design (decks & cables)
- Fence vibration and noise
- Human comfort (wind, thermal, noise, air quality)
- Solar radiance studies
- Pedestrian-induced vibration
Services
- Stability studies for arch assembly
- Construction sequencing
- Dust and air quality monitoring
- Gust and weather forecasting
- Noise & vibration monitoring
Services
- Decision support for weather effects on bridge operations
- Ice/snow accretion and hazard studies
- Planned maintenance support (wind & tarping)
- Structural monitoring (short term or long term)
Services
- Bridge monitoring
- Decommissioning analysis (dust & air quality of demolition plan)
- Multi-hazard environmental impact assessment
- Rehabilitation plan for bridge and bridge components
How we help
We collaborate and support your design vision with technical expertise across every climate and performance engineering discipline. Create resilient bridges that exist in harmony with their environment and community.
Our Climate Labs provide the perfect mix of analyses, modeling, and testing that enable you to design and build bridges that are safe, aerodynamically sound, structurally efficient and able to withstand various environmental conditions.
By leveraging our expertise in bridge aerodynamics, you can plan, design, construct, operate, and rehabilitate your bridge project with reduced risk and enhanced value. This means fewer unexpected issues and better long-term performance.
Our advanced wind engineering and climate consulting helps you understand and improve how your bridge will perform in any weather condition. The bridge design will be optimized for safety, efficiency, and longevity, ensuring it can withstand the harshest weather conditions while maintaining its structural integrity.
Our early-stage aerodynamic consulting means a more efficient design process, reducing the potential for expensive late-stage design changes. This streamlines your construction planning, resulting in cost savings, reduced carbon impact, and reduced materials.
Holistic engineering solutions
Bridge design challenges are complex. Our holistic suite of services offers climate responsive design and human-centric solutions that maximize performance while minimizing impact.
Aerodynamic stabilityWe understand the critical importance of aerodynamic stability for bridges, especially when faced with challenging wind and snow/ice conditions. We combine advanced wind tunnel testing with sophisticated computational modeling and climate assessments to analyze the effects of wind, snow, and ice on a bridge’s stability and performance. By simulating real-world conditions, we help you identify potential risks and develop tailored solutions to enhance aerodynamic stability.
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Stability of bridge deck and cables
We specialize in ensuring the stability of bridges during both the operational and construction phases, focusing on bridge decks and cables.
Our comprehensive analysis and testing services help mitigate the risks associated with wind-induced vibrations and vortex shedding, that can affect bridge performance. By leveraging our world-leading expertise in bridge aerodynamics and state-of-the-art Climate Labs, we provide you with invaluable insights to optimize bridge design for safety and efficiency. Our interdisciplinary team delivers tailored solutions that not only enhance structural integrity but also improve long-term durability, ensuring your bridge project meets the highest standards of performance and resilience in various environmental conditions.
arthur-ravenel-jr-bridge,frederick-douglass-memorial-bridge,langenuen-suspension-bridge
United States
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Ensuring the safety and stability of North America’s second longest cable-stayed bridge
Europe & United Kingdom
Langenuen Suspension Bridge
Exploring Norway's ambition for a record-breaking aluminum bridge
FAQs about bridge services
Still have questions? Contact us.
Yes, we can assess existing bridges and recommend rehabilitation solutions that reduce rehabilitation costs, decrease carbon, and improve climate resilience.
Climate change is leading to more frequent and extreme weather events. We can incorporate this into our assessments by considering higher wind speeds, increased rainfall, and potential changes in temperature extremes, ensuring bridges are designed or rehabilitated to withstand these evolving conditions.
We have worked on new and existing vehicle suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, beam bridges, and various types of pedestrian bridges. We offer critical services that enable you to plan, design, construct, operate, and rehabilitate bridges.
Yes, we can develop wind-based and/or weather-based operational guidelines specific to each bridge. Operational guidelines help operators make informed decisions about when to implement vehicle speed restrictions, close lanes, or close the bridge during extreme wind events.
We have done many blowover studies for new bridge designs and existing bridges. These studies assist in decision making about traffic restrictions and lane/bridge closures.
Yes, we have done many studies on fences added to bridges for means deterrent or separation of vehicular traffic from pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Our studies and mitigation methodologies help to ensure aerodynamic stability of the bridge, prevent fatigue of fence uprights, and minimize wind-induced noise.
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Leveraging Bridge Aerodynamics to Achieve Climate Resilience
Bridge aerodynamics, the interaction between the wind and various parts of the bridge structure, can help achieve climate resilience.