Development of a Real-time Remote Structural Monitoring Scheme for Civil Infrastructural Systems

Long-term structural monitoring has become an important requisite to ensure structural and operational safety for critical civil infrastructures. Long-term structural monitoring by acquiring data continuously or at small intervals may be difficult to achieve by employing conventional on-site monitoring methods. In order to overcome these difficulties remote structural monitoring (RSM), an advanced structural monitoring technique, can be used to acquire continuous data from the remotely instrumented structure. RSM methodology requires an interdisciplinary approach integrating areas such as structural engineering, sensor technology, communication technology, statistical mechanics, information technology for online data transmission (over larger distances) and damage detection/ health assessment of the structure. RSM has many advantages like, continuous monitoring, early alarm of any incipient damage, and data acquisition even in adverse climatic/environmental conditions. This article describes the development of an RSM scheme, developed at SERC, Chennai. The article outlines the laboratory and field investigations carried out to validate the developed scheme. Brief information about the observations and modifications made during these trials are also presented. A part of the work carried out for synthesizing online data using Auto Regressive Moving Average model is also presented.