It s a bit bizzare article but the fact we could detect similar failures is good. Not sure tho why anyone would use satelites for this. They could just use normal sensors that would give you way more precision.
Seriously, I think if they can show in hindsight how this could have been predicted using satellite data, and then using this knowledge in future to save a few other bridges (and lives), it is quite a cool finding.
- "According to a spokesperson from Dresden's Road and Civil Engineering Office, the bridge was frequently inspected"
Implies it frequently passed inspections–multiple, recent ones. How did the civil engineers make such an egregiously wrong call on this one? They didn't make enough alarm to even temporarily close it; it was a near-disaster,
- "The last tram crossed the span just 18 minutes before the collapse, dpa reported."
The German system is undoubtedly different to the American system - but [1] an American bridge that collapsed despite regular inspections might give you some idea of how this sort of thing can come about.
