Infrastructure performance monitoring and assessment

由于老化和日益增长的用户需求，加拿大和世界各地的基础设施正在恶化。我们需要的是有关基础设施关键部分性能的数据，使工程师和管理人员能够最大限度地利用稀缺资源。无线传感器网络(WSN)通过减少安装和硬件成本，显著降低了监控系统的成本，并有可能提供结构评估所需的数据。然而，尽管从经济角度来看，无线传感器网络表现出了希望，但它们仍然不够强大，不足以支持关键决策。开发新的传感器和分析工具是一个关键的优先事项，拟议的研究旨在通过实现七个研究目标来解决这一优先事项：(I)开发和初步校准高分辨率数码相机无线传感器节点，以促进位移和应变数据的测量；(Ii)相机节点的高级校准和软件工具的开发，以检测裂缝、劣化和应变；(Iii)开发软件，利用这些损伤和劣化信息自动执行结构分析并报告异常，(Iv)根据电流测量和评估钢结构劣化所需的分析软件，建立和校准钢结构的多节点腐蚀监测系统；(V)开发WSN版本的钢结构腐蚀检测系统；(Vi)现场实施两个传感器系统；以及(Vii)探索该技术在结构工程领域和其他领域的潜在应用。该项目将培养4名硕士研究生。学生和2名博士生。每个学生都将发展特定的结构分析技能，以执行复杂结构系统的评估和评估，例如使用非线性有限元软件。他们还将获得跨学科领域的技能，如无线传感器网络系统和无损结构评估。这些技能将使他们有机会在加拿大和国际上关键和高需求的领域工作。

Infrastructure in Canada and around the world is deteriorating due to age and the increasing user demands. What is needed is data about the performance of critical pieces of infrastructure that will allow engineers and managers to make the best use of scarce resources. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have significantly reduced the cost of monitoring systems by reducing both the installation and hardware costs, and can potentially provide the data required for structural evaluation. However, whilst WSNs show promise from an economic point of view, they are still not robust enough to support critical decision making. The development of new sensors and analysis tools is a key priority and the proposed research intends to address this priority by achieving seven research objectives: (i) development and initial calibration of a high resolution digital camera wireless sensor node to facilitate the measurement of displacement and strain data, (ii) advanced calibration of the camera node and development of software tools to detect cracks, deterioration and strains, (iii) development of software to automatically perform structural analysis using this damage and deterioration information and report anomalies, (iv) creation and calibration of a multi-node corrosion monitoring system for steel structures based on electrical current measurements and the necessary analysis software for the evaluation of deterioration of steel structures, (v) development of a WSN version of the steel structure corrosion detection system, (vi) field implementation of both of the sensor systems and (vii) exploration of other potential applications for the technology both in the structural engineering domain and beyond. This project will train 4 M.Sc. students and 2 Ph.D. students. Each student will develop the specific structural analysis skills required to perform the evaluation and assessment of complex structural systems such as the use of non-linear finite element software. They will also acquire skills in interdisciplinary areas such as WSN systems and non-destructive structural evaluation. These skills will give them the opportunity to work in areas of critical and high-demand in Canada and internationally.