Structural assessment of sewer pump stations using a novel photonics-based sensor system

Abstract

This paper reports the outcome of the research jointly developed and implemented by Sydney Water and City, University of London (City) to create innovative sensing solutions to long term monitoring of wastewater pump stations (PS) which form part of a network owned and operated by Sydney Water (SW). This has been achieved through recognising the potential of photonic devices for use in this environment and thus designing, fabricating and installing innovative optical fibre sensors, (achieving a strain resolution as low as ~1 microstrain), in two representative pump stations chosen by SW (and designated PS072 and PS001). This innovative sensor system has been complemented by conventional cover meter inspection for reinforcement identification. Being sensitive to the structural differences between the two sites chosen, the scientific rationale behind the sensor design, including the sensor positioning, the number of sensors installed, and the types of sensors required has been justified in detail in this paper. This contextualises the sensor data analysis and the key information extracted from the sensor systems designed and installed, thereby allowing better diagnosis of their respective structural operational conditions. Through this type of synergy of sensor data and structural integrity assessment, the key achievements of the work have been to create not just a continuous data-stream but allow accurate assessment of strain and vibration conditions of the structure in both time and position, through real time in situ monitoring and thus to warn of the potential for structural failure and collapse – the prime objective of the work.