Patent ID: 7734429

Claim:
A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure; the method comprising: (a) transmitting at least one first signal traversing said structure from at least one first transmitting unit to at least one first receiving unit through a first target area; (b) storing first signal information relating to said at least one first signal; (c) imposing damage to said structure; at least a portion of said damage being substantially situated within said first target area; (d) in no particular order: (1) measuring a plurality of dimensions relating to said damage; and (2) transmitting said at least one second signal traversing said structure from at least one second transmitting unit to at least one second receiving unit through a second target area; at least a portion of said damage being substantially situated within said second target area; (3) storing second signal information relating to said at least one second signal; (4) determining a plurality of damage index factors using said stored first signal information and said stored second signal information; and (5) determining a plurality of condensed damage index factors using at least one damage index factor of said plurality of damage index factors; (e) correlating selected condensed damage index factors of said plurality of condensed damage index factors with selected dimensions of said plurality of dimensions to determine a correlation index for selected combinations of said selected condensed damage index factors and said selected dimensions; and (f) selecting said at least one input parameter from among said selected condensed damage index factors having a correlation index meeting at least one predetermined criterion.