Develop an online bridge database that allows for record keeping of CS450 inspection findings
YEAR 2026
CLIENT Anglesey County Council
Owners of structural assets are required to ensure that their assets are inspected, maintained, and managed appropriately. CS450 provides national guidance on the implementation of a robust inspection methodology for highway structures, ensuring that defects and design deficiencies are consistently identified and recorded.
The information obtained from these inspections is used by asset owners to identify structures requiring intervention and to prioritise maintenance activities, supporting the efficient allocation of resources.
Due to the volume and complexity of inspection data, many local authorities rely on proprietary software solutions to store, manage, and interrogate this information. Some of these systems provide online access and analytical tools that allow users to filter data and identify trends across their asset portfolios. While effective, such systems often come at a significant financial cost.
A secure authentication and database solution was identified, with Supabase selected to host a PostgreSQL database. Continuous JWT-based authentication combined with Row Level Security provided a robust cybersecurity framework. By addressing both front- and back-end vulnerabilities at an early stage, Cadarn was able to focus development efforts on delivering a GDPR-compliant database architecture. Automatic daily backups offered additional resilience and reassurance against potential data corruption. Given the high volume of images generated during inspections, Supabase’s global CDN was used to ensure efficient delivery and responsive application performance.
Anglesey County Borough Council required Principal Inspections to be undertaken for 170 bridges within its asset portfolio. In response, Cadarn identified an opportunity to develop a custom web-based application to streamline the inspection, reporting, and record-keeping workflow. A key objective was to provide a fully digital inspection record that could be securely accessed by the asset owner wherever an internet connection was available, offering a flexible and cost-effective alternative to proprietary software solutions.
An initial user interface was developed to support the capture of inspection findings, including site notes and photographic evidence. Inspectors were guided through structured data entry, enabling image selection with descriptions, general comments, and structural-element-specific observations. A digital Bridge Condition Index (BCI) form allowed inspectors to undertake a high-level condition assessment, with all findings securely stored in the database.
An algorithm was developed to generate PDF inspection reports directly from the captured data. These reports could be reviewed by an overseeing engineer, supplemented with engineering comments and recommendations, and digitally signed for formal issue. A similar process was implemented to generate PDF versions of the BCI assessments.
A second user interface was designed with the client in mind. This presented a searchable and sortable list of inspected structures, with filtering by attributes such as structure name, inspection date, and BCI score. Each structure was also displayed spatially on a map via a location pin. Selecting a structure revealed a summary of inspection findings alongside a web-friendly version of the inspection report, with downloadable PDF versions of both the inspection report and BCI form available via dedicated tabs.
Further development focused on mobile integration, enabling inspectors to upload images and record comments directly from site using mobile devices. This significantly reduced post-inspection processing time and often allowed completed reports to be delivered to the client on the same day as the inspection.
Although the initial setup of the system was challenging, the efficiency gains quickly became apparent. Two inspection teams, each comprising two inspectors, successfully delivered inspections for 170 bridges within the contracted three-month programme.
The client has since identified the searchable database as a major asset, finding it more intuitive and effective than existing proprietary solutions.
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