Xerox Joint Venture Eloque Announces Plans to Triple Bridge Installs in First Half of 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

Xerox announced its joint venture, Eloque, with the Victorian Government aims to triple the number of bridges in Australia using fiber optic sensing technology. Expansion plans are also in motion for the U.S. and Europe. Eloque is already operational on 12 Australian bridges, aiding asset managers in prioritizing maintenance. U.S. infrastructure needs are highlighted, with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act providing $27 billion for repairs, yet a $125 billion shortfall remains for structurally deficient bridges.

Positive

• Eloque plans to triple bridge installations in Australia, indicating strong growth prospects.
• Active discussions for pilot programs in the U.S. and Europe could expand market reach.
• Eloque's technology has proven effective in maintaining bridge safety and assessing structural health.

Negative

• The estimated cost to rehabilitate all deficient bridges in the U.S. stands at $125 billion, highlighting a significant funding shortfall.
• Recent bridge failures indicate a worsening infrastructure problem, potentially impacting future contracts and opportunities.

Company also targeting expansion into the United States and Europe as global infrastructure challenges persist

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Xerox announced today that Eloque, the joint venture between Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and the Victorian Government, plans to triple the number of bridges in Australia using its fiber optic sensing technology during the first half of 2022, while also targeting expansion into the United States and Europe.

“Eloque provides structure and bridge engineers, asset managers and public infrastructure leaders with the information they need on structural health to better prioritize maintenance, extend the life of infrastructure assets and serve as an early warning system for potential failures,” said John Visentin, vice chairman and chief executive officer at Xerox. “Eloque is already seeing success with the installs in Australia and is working with multiple state departments of transportation in the U.S. to start deploying pilots in 2022, while continuing talks in select European countries.”

The recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Act in the United States includes $27 billion for bridge repair, which will help U.S. states significantly reduce the repairs backlog. However, the total estimated cost to rehabilitate all bridges in the United States classified as “structurally deficient” is $125 billion. To maximize available funding, federal and state officials should invest in real-time digital solutions, which provide transportation officials with the best information possible for anticipating possible bridge failures, assist them in better prioritizing necessary maintenance, and extending the life of the country’s aging bridges and roadways.

Eloque’s fiber optic sensing technology is in use on 12 bridges in Australia and has proven to be a valuable tool for transportation managers throughout the country.

In September 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit Mansfield, Victoria, causing minor structural damage in parts of Melbourne. The three bridges in the area outfitted with the Eloque’s end-to-end solution not only picked up the seismic activity, but quickly enabled asset managers to determine that the bridges were intact, operating to engineering specifications and able to withstand the next super heavy load movements scheduled after the earthquake struck.

“Asset management and engineering best practice are ever-moving goalposts,” said Eloque CEO Campbell Rose AM. “It is time for these practices to adopt advances in technology. Doing so will assist in addressing the magnitude of the infrastructure problem – this is the core of the Eloque solution.”

In its 2021 Annual Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers reported the following:

“There are more than 617,000 bridges across the United States. Currently, 42% of all bridges are at least 50 years old, and 46,154, or 7.5% of the nation’s bridges, are considered structurally deficient, meaning they are in “poor” condition...The nation needs a systematic program for bridge preservation like that embraced by many states, whereby existing deterioration is prioritized and the focus is on preventive maintenance.”

Recent catastrophic bridge failures are the most high-profile examples of a worsening problem being experienced across America as states struggle to maintain these critical pieces of infrastructure with insufficient resources.

Learn more about Eloque’s structural health monitoring technology here.

About Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX)

For more than 100 years, Xerox has continually redefined the workplace experience. Harnessing our leadership position in office and production print technology, we've expanded into software and services to sustainably power today's workforce. From the office to industrial environments, our differentiated business solutions and financial services are designed to make every day work better for clients — no matter where that work is being done. Today, Xerox scientists and engineers are continuing our legacy of innovation with disruptive technologies in digital transformation, augmented reality, robotic process automation, additive manufacturing, Industrial Internet of Things and cleantech. Learn more at xerox.com.

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Xerox^® and Eloque are trademarks of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220202005618/en/

Media Contact:

Justin Capella, +1-203-258-6535, Justin.Capella@xerox.com

Source: Xerox

FAQ

What is Eloque and its role in bridge management?

Eloque is a joint venture between Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center and the Victorian Government focused on using fiber optic sensing technology for bridge management, enhancing structural health monitoring.

How many bridges is Eloque planning to install in Australia?

Eloque plans to triple its installations, aiming for significant expansion in bridge management in Australia.

What funding is allocated for bridge repairs in the U.S.?

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act allocates $27 billion for bridge repairs in the U.S.

What is the total cost needed to rehabilitate deficient bridges in the U.S.?

The estimated cost to rehabilitate all bridges classified as structurally deficient in the U.S. is $125 billion.

What are the future expansion plans for Eloque?

Eloque is targeting expansion into the U.S. and Europe following its success in Australia.