Contents I. Introduction
The Safety assessment of ordinary structures is usually based on the experimental testing of displacements or strains under the design loads, by taking into consideration measures related to a selected discrete number of points. Such a knowledge database can produce savings through an optimization of the maintenance intervention and through the possibility of extending the life of the infrastructure, while at the same time keeping an optimal safety level. For many engineering works of strategic significance like bridges, pipes, rising buildings, dams and tunnels, safety should be continuously assessed during their entire lifetime.
