Exploring UAVs for Structural Health Monitoring (original) (raw)
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Journal of Imaging
This paper describes how Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may support the long-term monitoring of crack patterns in the context of architectural heritage preservation. In detail, this work includes: (i) a state of the art about the most used techniques in ancient structural monitoring; (ii) the description of the implemented methods, taking into account the requirements and constraints of the case study; (iii) the results of the experimentation carried out in the lab; and (iv) conclusions and future works.
The paper describes a multidisciplinary and integrated methodology related to material and structural elements tests, Laser Scanner surveys and Remote Sensing technology, applied to Historical Heritage. The knowledge process was aimed at defining the rehabilitation project of an historic building in Caporciano, a small old town centre damaged by the Abruzzo (Italy) earthquake which occurred on April 6th, 2009. The building analyzed is characterized by an extremely complex morphology, developed on different levels and making surveys using traditional methods particularly difficult. Therefore the laser scanning technique, which provides a complete 3D model of the entire structure, has been used. Due to the effects of the earthquake, the testing of the building’s structure had to take several aspects into consideration. An extensive non-destructive and semi-destructive tests campaign has been performed, in order to obtain historical-architectural knowledge and in situ materials characterization. The main techniques used were thermograph, ground penetrating radar, endoscopy, masonry analysis and mortar penetration test. In this case study, UAV remote sensing was employed, to collect data thanks to sensors mounted on carriers operating at low altitude. I was able to survey the roofs of the buildings: captured images were processed to identify any damage even on inaccessible areas.
A New Tool for Monitoring and Assessing the Structural Health of Ancient Masonry Constructions
This paper proposes an integrated structural monitoring and simulation system. More specifically it presents a Wireless Sensor Network prototype for the Structural Health Monitoring of historical buildings supported by the structural code NOSA-ITACA. Some preliminary results obtained by application of the prototype on the bell tower of the church of San Frediano in Lucca are also presented.