Real Time

Monitoring of
MBF Structure
TriTech
Dr G H Tan
Tritech Group
SysEng (S) Pte Ltd
Real Time Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

Marina Bay
Sands Towers
•Sensors are measured and processed every 10 minutes and
available in the secured website using Machine to Machine
Technologies (M2M)
•300 MEMs Tilt sensors for structure movements
•400 VW Strain Gages and 400 Temperatures for cast-in, Post-
tensioning and strut monitoring
•System handles 158,400 sensor readings per day
•Monitoring Period was 12 months during construction

Confidential and Copyright

Real Time Safety Monitoring for Deep Excavation

Confidential and Copyright

Real Time Automatic Tunnel Monitoring System

Structural Health Monitoring system to continuously

monitoring of Tunnels
System used:-
•Real Time Tunnel Monitoring & Alert system used
since 2002
•Tilt sensors are used to monitor the track sleepers
•Uses proven Leica Automatic Total Station Technology
•Prisms are measured, data are processed and made
available in the secured website using Machine to
Machine Technologies (M2M)

Prism
locations

Track Tilt sensor

Confidential and Copyright

 Real Time
Structural Monitoring
Quasi-Static
Dynamic
What is Real Time
Monitoring & Alert
System ?
What is actual
Real Time ?
 Is it continuous monitoring ? Then what is
continuous then ?
 Is it Real Time Data logging only ? Data
Logging is ONLY one basic component for Real
Time Monitoring and Alert system

 If characteristics move in days, then monitoring

every hour is real time
 If characteristics move in hours, then monitoring
every minute is real time
This was the system Deployed for Real Time Monitoring & Alert
System is Actual Only Real Time Data Logging !

Email Alert
only @
0000 hrs !
next day

Upload 0000 hrs Walers buckle More Walers buckle

Real Time Monitoring
& Alert System used
in many projects
since 2001
 SysEng Real Time Monitoring System Setup
Logger #1

http:\\www.syseng-m2m.com
Data Backup

GP
RS
Lin Uer #1 User #2 User#n
Logger #2 k Data Processor and Alert
for Logger #1
GPRS
Network
GPRS GateWay

GPRS Link Data Processor and Alert Dial UP

for Logger #2 ADSL
System
ADSL
Supervisor

Data Processor and Alert

for Logger #n
eMail
and WAN
Real tilme Data
Web and eMail
Server

SMS
k
S Lin

Server
user HP #1
S MS
GPR

Wireless Network User HP #2 User HP #n

Logger #n
SysEng Real Time
Construction SysEng
Monitoring System
Site Server Room
User
Track Records
Real Time Structural
Monitoring System
(Pasir Panjang Semi
Expressway)
Embedded & Surface
Bonded Sensors
2001 to 2004
LTA Pasir Panjang C3223
Bridge Instrumentation at
Kicker, Column and Box
Girder

Embedded VW Strain Gage

 2006 with surface
bonded sensors
during C856 project
2007 Pasir Panjang Semi Expressway
Pier Monitoring System
Pier Structure
Total of 11Piers movement detected,
caused by nearby
1st 2nd construction work
 Real Time Structural
Monitoring System
(Hong Kong North East
Tower in 2001)
High Rise Building during
Construction
Construction
Phases of a
420 m High
Tower Block in
HK
 Configuration
Level 65
RS485
Network

Level 53
RS485
Network
2.4 GHz
SMS Alert
System
Level 33
RS485
Central Data
Network
Highway Logging Station
Strain Gages and Displacement Sensors
 Real Time Structural
Monitoring System
(Republic Plaza)
High Rise Building
during Post-Construction
Long Term Building Dynamics
Monitoring at 280 m Republic Plaza
since 1995
Remote Monitoring of the 280m
High Republic Plaza
 Measures the Wind Load and Seismic
conditions experienced by the Building
 NTU conducts the Full Scale Research while
SysEng (S) designs and install the
Instrumentation
 The system operates automatically since 1995
 The system can be controlled remotely and
measured data are via modems
 Transducers at Republic Plaza
 (Top) Ultra sonic
Anemometer to
measure Wind
Direction & Speed
 (Top & Bottom)
Servo
Accelerometers to
measure vibrations
 GPS receivers to
measure
displacements
 Ultrasonic Anemometer

 Mounted on Top of
building
 No moving parts
 Reliable
 Lightning Protection
 Robust for out door
continuous use
Dual Axes Balanced DC Servo
Accelerometer Module
Real Time Structural
Monitoring System
(Helix Bridge)
Bridge Monitoring
Post-Construction
URA The Helix at Marina Bay

Elevation Layout
Dynamic Shaker Servo Accelerometer
Real Time Structural
Monitoring System
(MBS Hotel Towers)
Cast-in VW Strain Gage
•To measure the vertical
force from the
superstructure

Welded VW Strain Gage

•To measure the
tension/compression force on
the support beam between the
vertical and slope core
 Tilt meter

Ln
Ln-1
Ln-2
x

L3
L

L2
L1

x = Lsinθ
Where L is floor
height
Displacement Sensor
Total Lateral Displacement at
level n-> Xi = D + ∑ Li sin θi

Xi
Individual floor level
Xi
lateral displacement can
Xi
be determined by using
•Displacement sensor as
Xi
the referencing datum
•Accumulated lateral
movement resolved from
Xi tilting angle detected by
Xi
tilt meter

D
D
Location of
•Tilt Meter
•Displacement
sensor
 Challenges
in Operating and
Maintaining Systems
 Real Time
Monitoring & Alert is
Analyzing the data
immediately into
information for the user
to take informed decision
 Systematic data management is required to
avoid information overload and condense huge
information into information the human user can
handle
 Simplify the human interface for easy
interpretation and de-skilling of decision
operations
 Real Time Continuous Monitoring by Computers
need the same corresponding Real Time
Continuous Analysis by computers also !
 Important data
flow path

SMS
Alert

Real Time Monitoring & Alert System

gives SMS Alerts within 10
minutes,hence earlier reaction time for
crisis management
Quality & Reliability
of
Sensor Data
 Use of a Fast Fourier
Transform (FFT)
Spectrum Analyzer to
check the Signal to
Noise Ratio to verify
Quality of Signal
presented to the ADC
Signal Data
Analogue Logger Digital Signal
Conditioner
Signals with 1.10 value

High Electro Magnetic Readout gives 1.1value

Interference or Unwanted signal = 1.05(Sensor) + 0.05(Noise)?
sources from Motors, Arc = 0.9 (Sensor) + 0.2 (Noise) ?
welding Equipment, Heaters, = 0.5 (Sensor) + 0.6 (Noise) ?
Sensor Inverters, etc
 EMI Noise affecting the sensor readings
Under Ideal condition, the Data Quality is
maintained even if 1000 m cables are used

But the Reality is that a site condition is very different

Non Noise site ~ 500m while Noisy site ~ 200m

Site conditions generate EMI Noise due to Arc Welding, Portable

Power Generators and High Current AC current wires EMI Meter
inducing noise into sensor wires due to cross coupling. to pin-
Cables with improper shielding configuration, ungrounded point the
shielded cable ends, exposed cable joints can corrupt source
sensor readings
Same Data Logger but monitoring different sensors via
Multiplexers showing EMI noise affecting readings over days

Time scale in days

Real Time scale in minutes

EMI Noise

Time scale in days

Good Engineering Practices
Site Layout Design Consideration
Consideration factors
 Maximum signal cable length
 Reduce noise pickup possibility
 Cable installation
 Avoid noise source
 Avoid wielding cable and power generator cable crossing
 Max numbers of channels per logger
 Cluster design
 Easy to view sensors info at Real Time monitoring & Alert
System
 160.86m

24m
Depth =27m
24m

A B

Max distance Cluster design

A - ~ 60meter -Easy to install and Maintain
B - ~ 60meter -Keep out from noise source
C - ~ 45meter -Keep out from working place
D - ~ 40meter -Avoid cable crossing power cables
Sensors are precision devices
•Resolution & Accuracy
•Handling & Storage from office to
site
•Mounting Sensor in right location
where it is sensitive to movements
and in-sensitive to noise
•Sensor to Cable link water
proofing
•Lightning protection to avoid
sensor intermittent failures
 Thank you

Dr G H Tan
HP: 97271973
Email: dr.tangh@syseng.com.sg