August 22, 2023
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Blogs
The Convergence of AI and IoT in Structural Health Monitoring
Imagine a world where every structure communicates its status, where buildings, bridges and roads are part of an interconnected network, each providing vital data to ensure safety, sustainability and efficiency. This vision is not a distant dream but an attainable reality.
Asset Monitoring has long been a critical aspect of asset lifecycle management, ensuring the safety, reliability, sustainability and longevity of our buildings, bridges and infrastructures. Today, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can empower asset owners with insights that elevate the construction and asset management industry.
Asset Monitoring has long been a critical aspect of asset lifecycle management, ensuring the safety, reliability, sustainability and longevity of our buildings, bridges and infrastructures. Today, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can empower asset owners with insights that elevate the construction and asset management industry.
The Importance of Sound, Unadulterated Data
As AI implementation continues to proliferate, the demand for accurate and untampered data has become paramount. AI thrives on data; the quality of its predictions and insights is directly correlated to the purity and precision of the data fed into it.
This can be achieved by leveraging IoT, where interconnected sensors provide real-time data, facilitating immediate analysis and action. The concept of Asset Health Monitoring is not new. The earliest known use dates back to the 19th century, when railroad wheel-tappers used the sound of a hammer striking the train wheel to evaluate if damage was present. The field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) as we know it today really began to take shape in the 1990s, with the development of new sensor technologies and advances in data processing and analysis. The pace of development is only accelerating with the exponential growth in sensing, networking and computing technologies.
As AI implementation continues to proliferate, the demand for accurate and untampered data has become paramount. AI thrives on data; the quality of its predictions and insights is directly correlated to the purity and precision of the data fed into it.
This can be achieved by leveraging IoT, where interconnected sensors provide real-time data, facilitating immediate analysis and action. The concept of Asset Health Monitoring is not new. The earliest known use dates back to the 19th century, when railroad wheel-tappers used the sound of a hammer striking the train wheel to evaluate if damage was present. The field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) as we know it today really began to take shape in the 1990s, with the development of new sensor technologies and advances in data processing and analysis. The pace of development is only accelerating with the exponential growth in sensing, networking and computing technologies.
Technologies Providing Data: A Glimpse into Current Innovations
Various technologies are now available to provide accurate and reliable data.
Corrosion, widely recognized as the primary cause of failure in concrete structures, can be detected through various sensor technologies. For instance, half-cell potential measurements and linear polarization techniques detect corrosion at the rebar level, while shifts in resistivity or potentials within the concrete cover provide early warnings of corrosive species’ ingress.
Accelerometers, piezoelectric sensors, fiber optic sensors and linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are all commonly used to measure strain, vibration and displacement of structure’s during their lifecycle.
These technologies can be integrated with advanced machine learning algorithms, creating a synergy where real-time monitoring meets predictive analysis. The result is a system capable of not only identifying problems at their inception but also forecasting potential future issues.
Various technologies are now available to provide accurate and reliable data.
Corrosion, widely recognized as the primary cause of failure in concrete structures, can be detected through various sensor technologies. For instance, half-cell potential measurements and linear polarization techniques detect corrosion at the rebar level, while shifts in resistivity or potentials within the concrete cover provide early warnings of corrosive species’ ingress.
Accelerometers, piezoelectric sensors, fiber optic sensors and linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are all commonly used to measure strain, vibration and displacement of structure’s during their lifecycle.
These technologies can be integrated with advanced machine learning algorithms, creating a synergy where real-time monitoring meets predictive analysis. The result is a system capable of not only identifying problems at their inception but also forecasting potential future issues.
Conclusion: The Evolution’s Significance
The convergence of AI and IoT in Structural Health Monitoring is more than a technological advancement it’s an evolution in how we perceive and interact with our surroundings. The robust data gatherer through IoT serves as the bedrock for AI’s predictive capabilities, forming a symbiotic relationship that transcends traditional boundaries.
The importance of this evolution lies in its ability to enhance our understanding of materials and structural behavior, improve safety standard, optimize maintenance strategics, and ultimately shape a more resilient and sustainable future.
Keywords: Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Asset Health Monitoring, Corrosion Detection, Sensor Technologies, Predictive Maintenance, Construction Technology (Contech)
The convergence of AI and IoT in Structural Health Monitoring is more than a technological advancement it’s an evolution in how we perceive and interact with our surroundings. The robust data gatherer through IoT serves as the bedrock for AI’s predictive capabilities, forming a symbiotic relationship that transcends traditional boundaries.
The importance of this evolution lies in its ability to enhance our understanding of materials and structural behavior, improve safety standard, optimize maintenance strategics, and ultimately shape a more resilient and sustainable future.
Keywords: Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Asset Health Monitoring, Corrosion Detection, Sensor Technologies, Predictive Maintenance, Construction Technology (Contech)