Seismic Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

This paper presents a province-wide seismic monitoring network: the British Columbia Smart Infrastructure Monitoring System (BCSIMS), which encompasses a comprehensive Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system and a Strong Motion Network (SMN). The SHM network currently involves 14 bridges, 1 tunnel, 1 building and 11 public schools. Real-time readings from these sensors are automatically analyzed: the results are then permanently stored on a data center and can be viewed in the BCSIMS website (www.bcsims.ca). The SHM system then continuously keeps track of the changes in the dynamic characteristics of these structures to detect and locate damage and to make fast decisions on the safety level of structures and the actions that need to be taken. The real-time data analysis includes drift analysis, modal identification, and the calculation of the important statistics of each data channel. Finite element model updating, the damage detection, and structural event reports are other important features that have been developed and implemented in the SHM network. The objective of the SHM network is to provide the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with the performance of these structures immediately following a significant event such as strong earthquake or wind. Such information is then used to assess the safety level of these structures and also to help and support the inspection and maintenance program. The entire system has now been automated and tested and validated by an earthquake occurred on December 29th, 2015 in Sidney Island, BC. The SHM system successfully responded to the earthquake and provided the required information to make immediate decisions and expedite to the emergency.