## 1 Introduction  
Bridges are essential infrastructure that facilitate connectivity for the advancement of society and the economic condition of any region [1]. They can be constructed over rivers, two adjoining ocean/sea masses, roads, railway tracks, or valleys. Bridges facilitate the perpetual and easy flow of raw materials, consumer durables, and manufactured items from factories and suppliers to houses, customers, distributors, and many more. Several types of infrastructure malfunctions can have a catastrophic impact on the structure of a bridge, such as accidental overload [2], lack of maintenance [3], scour [4], faulty design [4], corrosion [5], and mistakes encountered due to construction and supervision [6]. In addition, forces like tension, torsion, shear, and resonance can also compromise structural integrity [7]. Moreover, catastrophic atmospheric events can substantially impact the health of bridges and increase their fragility [8]. Bridges are standard in coastal areas, connecting two adjacent or distant land masses. These bridges are exposed to highly aggressive environments, which leads to durability problems, affecting their service and necessitating intensive inspection regimes. In general, bridges are constantly used, exposing them to damage that can reduce their serviceability and lifetime, leading to an increased risk of collapse and causing economic and physical damage [9]. Bridge structures have different structural typologies that are often dictated by the environmental setting and geography, span, expected load, visual impact, and design requirements. Due to their different operational environments and loading conditions, bridges and other civil structures like buildings and dams have different structural health monitoring (SHM) methods. Vehicles, trains, and people burden bridges make vibration-based monitoring essential for structural changes. Bridge integrity is often assessed using modal analysis, which includes natural frequencies and damping ratios [10]. Dams are examined for seepage, foundation subsidence, and internal erosion threats, while buildings are primarily static and require SHM systems focusing on wind-induced vibrations and seismic resilience [11]. Bridges use accelerometers, strain gauges, and weigh-in-motion sensors at piers and mid-spans, while buildings use tiltmeters and seismic sensors, and dams use piezometers and water pressure sensors [12]. Failure modes and maintenance practices distinguish bridge SHM from other structures. Bridges need regular inspections, Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones, and real-time monitoring for predictive maintenance due to fatigue cracks, corrosion, and scour [13]. Structures can collapse during seismic events, while dams can overtop or collapse owing to seepage, requiring geotechnical monitoring. SHM in predictive maintenance plans has improved infrastructure resilience, especially in bridges where ageing and dynamic stress are essential [14]. These differences highlight the need for SHM methods tailored to each structure's characteristics and risk factors. Concrete is the most exploited construction material globally and lends itself effectively to most bridge applications and complex structures. Concrete bridges are durable and versatile, not only when they take their final shape but also during the process of construction, and these qualities are not commonly found together, making concrete the substance of choice in the construction of modern bridges. Other qualities of concrete that make it highly desirable are its strength, aesthetic quality, economic impact, simple construction, and quick deployment technique. All these qualities make concrete the best material for constructing any bridge, irrespective of its size, use, or type.