Increasing Knowledge of Structural Performance

Recent advances in measurement systems, less expensive computer hardware and equipment portability are creating conditions where the majority of civil engineering structures can be designed, maintained, repaired and replaced through reference to measurement data. Combined with appropriate models, such data have the potential to provide a more accurate knowledge of real structural behaviour than more traditional modelling strategies. Furthermore, obtaining useful knowledge from large amounts of raw data requires rational implementations of information technology (IT). Examples of multi-model diagnosis as well as intelligent computational control of an active structure are used to illustrate the importance of measurement systems and IT for increasing knowledge of structural performance.