What is Structural Health Monitoring?
Structural Health Monitoring helps to ensure the longevity and operational integrity of critical infrastructure. It is used across various industries including construction, rail, and road maintenance. By continuously tracking the condition and performance of structures over time, Structural Health Monitoring helps you maintain the highest standards of safety and efficiency throughout your asset’s lifecycle.
How does Structural Health Monitoring work?
Monitoring equipment collects data from sensors and displays it in real-time. The sensors detect specific parameters such as temperature, pressure, or flow rates, and transmit this information to the monitor; allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions, reducing costs and risks.
How Murphy Geospatial's "Precision from Space" revolutionises our monitoring solutions
Murphy Geospatial’s “Precision from Space” or InSAR Satellite Monitoring approach integrate advanced monitoring satellite technologies like InSAR and GNSS with the expertise and capability to enhance results with terrestrial technologies as automated scanning and ground-based IoT sensors to ensure that every insight is accurate, relevant, and tailored to the project needs. Empowering you to focus solely on outcomes, with Murphy Geospatial, data isn’t just collected, it’s transformed into intelligence you can trust.
Examples of Structural Health Monitoring
Construction Projects
Monitoring the integrity of buildings, bridges, and other structures during and after construction. Read more about ensuring structural integrity on your construction projects.
Rail Networks
Ensuring the stability and reliability of rail infrastructure to prevent accidents and service disruptions. Structural Health Monitoring is also deployed when construction is undertaken in surrounding areas. This was the case with the Cherry Park development, which was being built next to an existing DLR and required monitoring to observe the condition of the tracks during the project.
Road Maintenance
Tracking the condition of roads and highways to manage wear and tear, ensuring safe and efficient transportation.
Bridge Monitoring
Structural Health Monitoring for bridges is a great solution to ensure the safe and continued operation of bridges over time or during heavy use such as construction access. It is also used to identify defects and degradation, helping you to deploy maintenance at the right time before issues become worse and more costly.
Basement Monitoring
Basement monitoring is the process of tracking and assessing various parameters during excavation and construction activities in basement projects to ensure safety, stability, and compliance.
It involves the use of advanced instruments to monitor structural movements, soil conditions, water pressure, and other factors, providing real-time data that helps manage risks associated with excavation.
By establishing baseline conditions before work begins and continuously analysing collected data, basement monitoring allows for timely adjustments to construction methods, confirms design assumptions, enhances safety, and helps optimise project efficiency and costs, ensuring that construction activities adhere to best practices and regulatory requirements.
What are the benefits of Structural Health Monitoring?
Structural Health Monitoring surveys provide early detection of structural changes, allowing for quick identification and resolution of potential issues before they escalate. This minimises downtime and prevents severe damage.
By continuously monitoring and managing the condition of structures, SHM helps extend the lifespan of assets, ensuring they remain functional and safe for longer periods.
SHM enables the maintenance of high safety and efficiency standards by providing real-time data on the structural health of assets.
SHM technology can integrate seamlessly with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) or Asset Management Systems (AMS), enhancing the ability to monitor and manage infrastructure effectively.
SHM solutions ensure that infrastructure meets regulatory standards, aiding compliance and avoiding potential legal issues.
Designed to support long-term asset management strategies, SHM is particularly beneficial for assets with lifecycles of five years or more, providing ongoing insights into structural health and performance.
CASE STUDY
The Sky Pool, Embassy Gardens – London, UK
The Sky Pool is a remarkable clear acrylic swimming pool suspended above the Embassy Gardens in Wandsworth, London. Our expert team monitored the pool’s structural performance to confirm design and engineering predictions by installing an autonomous monitoring system. This system measured both horizontal and vertical relative deflection of the acrylic structure, providing precise and reliable data.
Our monitoring team delivered accurate monitoring solutions, ensuring the pool’s structural integrity as it was filled with water over a set period. This process was crucial in verifying the pool’s performance and safety, ensuring a unique and secure experience for users.
Key services provided:
- Structural Performance Monitoring: Confirmed design and engineering predictions through detailed data collection.
- Autonomous Monitoring System Installation: Ensured continuous and precise measurement of deflections.
- Accurate Monitoring Solutions: Delivered reliable data on the pool’s structural performance during critical phases.
CASE STUDY
Banteer Train Station - County Cork, Ireland
The Banteer Train Station accessibility project involved constructing a new footbridge with two 13-person lifts, refurbishing platform 2, and upgrading the toilets. Murphy Geospatial was tasked with installing, commissioning, and maintaining an autonomous structural monitoring system to ensure safety during the construction.
The main challenges included complying to Irish Rail regulations and maintaining clear sightlines while powering the instruments. Murphy Geospatial successfully installed the system within two working shifts, establishing the monitoring database and initiating the baseline without affecting the construction schedule.
Key services provided:
Automated System Installation and Commissioning: Two Total Stations with communication equipment, over 150 geodetic track-mounted survey prisms, over 50 geodetic platform survey prisms, and over 16 geodetic reference survey prisms.
Data Management and Monitoring: Collection and analysis of data providing real-time calculations for track geometry and platform clearance.
Comprehensive Surveys and Geospatial Control: Execution of control network, rail geometry, and platform geometry surveys to provide detailed information and support.
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