Perceptions of long-term monitoring for civil and structural engineering

Abstract

Long-term in-service monitoring has been heralded as having the potential to radically reshape the design and operation of civil structures and infrastructure. However, in order for civil and structural engineers to extract the greatest value from in situ structural monitoring there are a range of practical, cultural and social barriers which must be overcome. To explore current perceptions of long-term monitoring in civil and structural engineering, a multi-national survey of 146 participants was conducted to understand perceived uncertainties within the existing civil/structural engineering design process, perceptions of long-term monitoring, and the potential for the future integration and use of long-term monitoring in the civil/structural engineering design process. This study highlights that while views of long-term monitoring as a tool within the engineering design process are broadly positive, there is a wide disparity on its current implementation in practice, little agreement on how it may offer the greatest benefit to civil and structural engineering design, and a current lack of direct financial incentive to prompt its use within industry.