Autonomous Monitoring of Dynamic Response of In-Service Structures for Decision Support

Abstract

This paper describes instrumentation and autonomous, Web-enabled remote monitoring of in-service structures to resolve concerns. Structures were subject to dynamic excitation from blasting, construction equipment, and passing trains. An integrated approach to sensing, data acquisition, communication, data aggregation, and display was developed and successfully applied to structures ranging from bridges to homes. Challenges encountered and best practices developed over many multiyear continuous remote monitoring deployments are discussed. Deployment of monitoring and communication hardware and software and development of robust, autonomous, data aggregation, dissemination, and interpretation strategies are emphasized. Three selected case studies provide context and demonstrate applications of field monitoring to real-world situations on in-service structures. Autonomously acquired data were used to allay fears of construction vibration-related damage to a historic building, possible loss of capacity of bridge columns under quasi-static and dynamic loads, and blast-induced cracking of residences.