Case Study: Technology Institute of Costa Rica improves bridge safety with Minitab

On the Safe Side Costa Rica Institute of Technology Helps Ensure Bridge Safety with Minitab

The Technology Institute of Costa Rica (TEC) faced the challenge of helping the government make data-driven decisions about bridge maintenance, especially for the heavily used Purires River bridge. To assess whether the bridge needed immediate repairs or could remain in service, TEC’s eBridge Project collected sensor data on movement and vibration and analyzed more than 90,000 data points using Minitab Statistical Software.

Using Minitab, the team performed time series analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and reliability analysis to model bridge performance and predict failure risk under traffic loads. The results showed the bridge had a low reliability index and did not meet safety requirements, prompting government action before an emergency occurred; two months later, a steel beam collapsed, confirming the accuracy of Minitab-supported predictions.

Technology Institute of Costa Rica

Federico Picado

Researcher