Structural health monitoring of a damaged church: design of an integrated platform of electronic instrumentation, data acquisition and client/server software

Abstract

Summary A practical view is provided on the integration of electronic instrumentation, data acquisition, and software development systems applied to the analysis of pathological structural processes. This system will enable researchers to remotely monitor constructions; compile a register of historical data, creating files for postprocessing; and establish computer‐based protocols for evaluation of information, defining automatic alarms when the monitored data exceed preset limit values. This integration is based on the implementation of a remote terminal unit architecture in an industrial PC along with some other elements, namely, the following: suitable data acquisition cards for the type of sensors used, which continuously collect the data the sensors gather; the installation of an application server that periodically communicates with the system, extracting data while guaranteeing persistence; and finally, a web server, which provides remote access to both the data themselves and the system configuration, using a client application developed in JavaFX, a platform for developing rich Internet applications. As an example of the integration, the architecture of a system deployed in a Church in Comillas, Spain, is shown. The work carried out related to the register of existing damage is reported in order to explain the choice of the zones for deployment of the monitoring devices as well as the tasks involved in the installation of the sensors and other devices. Finally, the evolution is presented of the measurements taken during more than 1.5 years of monitoring, as well as their validation through comparison with those obtained by discrete in situ measurement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new device for stress monitoring of ancient masonry buildings: Pilot study and results

“…The second consisted of a monitoring and control system based on remote data management through an application developed in JavaFX. This included a novel integration of systems of electronic instrumentation, data acquisition, and ad hoc software development . This integration was based on the implementation of remote terminal unit (RTU) architecture on an industrial PC (Figure b) that acted as master unit (master terminal unit, MTU).…”

“…This included a novel integration of systems of electronic instrumentation, data acquisition, and ad hoc software development. [54][55][56] This integration was based on the implementation of remote terminal unit (RTU) architecture on an industrial PC (Figure 9b) that acted as master unit (master terminal unit, MTU [57] ). This, along with data acquisition cards suitable for each type of sensor, performed uninterrupted data collection.…”

An integrated structural health monitoring system for determining local/global responses of historic masonry buildings

“…Meanwhile, crackmeters FIS-04 and FIS-05 located on the domes (below and above, respectively) registered higher amplitudes than the cited ones, maximum values of 0.71 and 0.58 mm, respectively, in both cases, as a consequence of being installed on a less stiff element, whereas the records of FIS-05 were additionally affected by the direct effect of exterior atmospheric changes. [29] In February 2015, the consolidation work on the arches and domes was started (injection of cracks and reinforcement), which on finalizing, were reflected in lesser variability of the records of the sensors. After these interventions, the amplitudes presented by the crackmeters showed a stable tendency as can be seen in Figure 13, corresponding to FIS-01.…”

Experimental image and range scanner datasets fusion in SHM for displacement detection

“…The most modern systems incorporate wireless transmitters and receivers to overcome some limitations caused by the use of cables. The raw data can be collected from the sensors through wireless communication, and all data can be gathered in the central processor situated at a far distance . Monitoring systems are capable of assessing the structure continuously, providing real‐time information on its health state, including identification, localization, and quantification of damage .…”

“…The raw data can be collected from the sensors through wireless communication, and all data can be gathered in the central processor situated at a far distance. [33] Monitoring systems are capable of assessing the structure continuously, providing real-time information on its health state, including identification, localization, and quantification of damage. [34] The limitations of a wireless sensor network, such as low-bandwidth wireless communication, and limited resources on wireless sensors' nodes need to be addressed for a successful SHM system.…”