Herbert Wiggenhauser

Federal Institute For Materials Research and Testing

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Herbert Wiggenhauser is a pioneering figure in the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of civil infrastructure, with a particular focus on the robotic assessment of reinforced concrete structures. His research centers on developing automated, mobile systems to diagnose critical deterioration, such as chloride-induced corrosion from de-icing salts, which threatens the longevity of parking garages and bridge decks. Wiggenhauser’s major contributions include the design of BETOSCAN, an instrumented mobile robot system for diagnosing reinforced concrete floors, and a climbing robot for infrastructure assessment, both of which enable comprehensive, surface-wide evaluations that were previously impractical. Although his most-cited papers—such as the 2008 work on BETOSCAN (4 citations) and the 2002 conference paper on climbing robots (3 citations)—have modest citation counts, their impact lies in advancing practical, field-deployable solutions for structural health monitoring. Notably, his collaborative work with Jörg Köhnen and Frank Weise on the climbing robot, presented at the 2002 IABSE Symposium in Melbourne, highlights his role in integrating robotics with civil engineering to enhance safety and maintenance efficiency. Wiggenhauser’s innovations continue to inspire researchers in automated NDE, offering a blueprint for resilient infrastructure management.