Infrastructure performance monitoring and assessment

由于老化和不断增长的用户需求，加拿大和世界各地的基础设施正在恶化。我们需要的是有关关键基础设施性能的数据，这些数据将使工程师和管理人员能够充分利用稀缺资源。无线传感器网络（wsn）通过降低安装和硬件成本，大大降低了监测系统的成本，并可能提供结构评估所需的数据。然而，尽管从经济角度来看，WSNs显示出了希望，但它们仍然不够强大，无法支持关键决策。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，以方便位移和应变数据的测量；（ii）对相机节点进行高级校准，并开发软件工具，以检测裂纹、劣化和应变；（iii）开发软件，利用这些损坏和劣化信息自动执行结构分析，并报告异常情况。（iv）创建和校准基于电流测量的钢结构多节点腐蚀监测系统，以及评估钢结构劣化的必要分析软件；(v)开发钢结构腐蚀检测系统的WSN版本；（vi）现场实施这两个传感器系统；（vii）探索该技术在结构工程领域及其他领域的其他潜在应用。本项目将培养4名硕士生和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，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非破坏性结构评估。这些技能将使他们有机会在加拿大和国际上的关键和高需求领域工作。

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.