Llanrhystud Bridge Becomes UK's First In-Service Structure to be Inspected by Cutting-Edge Muon Tomography

Llanrhystud Bridge is set to make history as the first operational bridge in the UK to be evaluated using cutting-edge Muon Tomography technology. This groundbreaking initiative will commence on October 6th, 2025, following the technology’s proven success in National Highways’ Moonshot project. The deployment marks a significant advancement in non-destructive structural assessment.

Muon Tomography leverages naturally occurring subatomic particles (muons) to generate highly detailed 3D images of a structure’s internal components. This enables engineers and asset managers to detect hidden defects, voids, and structural weaknesses with unprecedented accuracy—supporting more informed, data-driven asset management decisions.

Developed by Estonian startup GScan, this innovative approach dramatically enhances the efficiency, safety, and precision of structural health monitoring, ensuring the long-term resilience and integrity of critical infrastructure assets.

This collaborative landmark project brings together the expertise of GScan and the civil engineering firm Topbond, with Gwynedd Consultancy as the sponsor, responsible for the bridge's maintenance. This partnership highlights a shared commitment to leveraging advanced, non-destructive testing methods to ensure safe public infrastructure and optimise maintenance strategies.

"We are incredibly proud to partner with Topbond and Gwynedd Consultancy to deploy our Muon Tomography technology on the Llanrhystud Bridge," said Dr Sander Sein, Civil Lead Engineer at GScan. "This project is a pivotal step to revolutionise the inspection of existing infrastructure, and provide a detailed look at structural health in a way that traditional methods simply cannot. The success we've seen with the National Highways Moonshot project with AtkinsRéalis and Jacobs is now being translated into real-world, in-service applications."

This project marks a new era for bridge inspection in the UK, showcasing a proactive approach to infrastructure management that prioritises safety, efficiency, and technological innovation. The data gathered from the Llanrhystud Bridge will provide invaluable insights, paving the way for the wider adoption of Muon Tomography across the country.

About GScan 

GScan’s unique AI-driven hardware analyses subatomic particles to automatically pinpoint defects across the built environment and infrastructure at a depth of up to 10m. GScan’s ongoing monitoring service removes doubt by providing asset owners and operators with reliable, accurate data about their asset’s integrity. This can save unnecessary decommissioning, reduce costs, and save millions of tonnes of carbon by extending the lifespan of existing assets. GScan was founded in 2018 in Estonia, and has a team of eight PhDs across various disciplines.

Media Contact: Graham Kneller, VP of Solutions at GScan 

Email: graham.kneller@gscan.eu  Phone: +44 7957 658237