Patent ID: 6292108
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A system for monitoring structural properties of a large civil structure during structural overloading caused by a natural hazard or other extreme event, the system comprising:a) a plurality of self-powered sensor units, wherein each sensor unit comprises:I) a mechanical vibration sensor mechanically coupled to the civil structure and producing an analog electrical signal representative of mechanical vibrations in a localized area of the civil structure;ii) a data acquisition circuit electrically coupled to the mechanical vibration sensor and producing from the analog electrical signal a digital signal data stream representative of the mechanical vibrations;iii) a digital wireless transmitter coupled to the data acquisition circuit and producing from the digital data stream a wireless signal containing digital information in the digital data stream;iv) an electrical battery supplying power to the data acquisition circuit and to the digital wireless transmitter; andb) a site master unit comprising:I) a digital wireless receiver coupled to the wireless signal of each sensor unit and reproducing the digital information of each sensor unit;ii) a microprocessor couple to the receiver and programmed to collect and to analyze the digital information from the plurality of sensor units to determine the condition of the structure as a result of a natural hazard or other extreme event.