Structural monitoring allows for a better understanding of the durability of structures and helps engineers plan and implement corrective or maintenance interventions. It helps prevent structural deterioration and extends the lifespan of buildings.
Major structures like dams, bridges, and high-rise buildings are exposed to environmental stressors & seismic activity that can affect their integrity. SHM monitors mechanical damage generated by earthquakes, unpredictable events & their everyday use.
Real-time Data Collection
Structural monitoring is critical to construction safety. It ensures that buildings can withstand external forces, such as earthquakes or heavy snowfall, and keeps the structure safe for occupants.
The only method available for gathering real-time data that enables engineers to spot problems before they become serious ones is through a structural monitoring building system. It also helps to decrease maintenance expenses and increases the longevity of the building.
Unlike manual inspections, SM systems can detect issues in minutes and provide timely alerts, saving time and effort for survey crews. Using SM systems in bridges has already decreased inspection times by up to 80%.
A real-time monitoring solution is essential for construction projects in dense urban areas or near historical buildings. For example, Trimble 4D Control can monitor the movement and vibrations of surrounding buildings near an excavation site to prevent damage. It helps mitigate liability concerns and keep the project on schedule.
Early Detection of Anomalies
Structures can only be maintained to their expected lifespan by detecting and responding to damage early on. SMS enables this by providing data that supports the identification of abnormal performances that can indicate structural issues before they reach an unmanageable level.
To make sense of the data, SMS software uses data interpretation models to analyze the results of collected information and detect trends and anomalies. Once a problem is detected, response protocols are set to ensure corrective measures are taken quickly and efficiently.
It helps protect the lives of building occupants and preserve architectural monuments from sudden failure. It also improves the life expectancy of structures and reduces long-term and short-term maintenance costs. Structural monitoring is crucial for the modern construction industry to help deliver safe and high-quality infrastructure. Using innovative materials and advanced construction techniques, SM can help build more substantial, durable buildings that can withstand extreme conditions for extended periods.
Predictive Maintenance
As technology advances, AI/ML algorithms are becoming more valuable for monitoring structural health and predicting potential problems. It enables predictive maintenance that can save time and money by reducing inspection intervals, repair costs, and downtime.
Identifying damage to civil, mechanical, and aerospace structures is a crucial aspect of structural monitoring. It includes evaluating whether a structure is safe for reoccupation after a natural disaster, such as an earthquake.
The structural monitoring process provides data on the realistic performance of structures, which will help to improve design and shift towards a performance-based design philosophy. It also allows for identifying the optimum time to perform repairs to reduce operational costs and optimize maintenance schedules. Integrating structural monitoring into construction projects makes it possible to ensure the safety and functionality of buildings for their entire life span. That will make them more cost-effective for owners and users alike.
Artificial Intelligence
Currently, civil engineers use a wide range of sensors to monitor structural conditions and identify possible issues. These sensors detect movements, deformations, and changes in temperature or humidity, delivering information to a data acquisition system. AI algorithms help analyze these massive amounts of data, making them more effective than ever.
AI can enhance construction quality and safety by reducing risks from unforeseen situations like machinery malfunctions or collisions.
Structural monitoring (SM) is essential for ensuring the safety of structures across industries. It enables us to understand long-term behavior, calibrate durability models, and optimize future designs by shifting toward performance-based design principles. In addition, the structural monitoring process collects data on real-world performance, helping to avoid unreliable predictions of failure.