SMOOHS

Smart Monitoring of Historic Structures

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Historic structures are often of extraordinary architecture, design or material. The conservation of such structures for next European generations is one of the main future tasks. To conserve historic structures it is more and more required to understand the deterioration processes mainly caused by the environment. In certain cases continuous monitoring systems have been installed to obtain information about the deterioration processes. However, most of these monitoring systems were just weather or air pollution data acquisition systems and use only basic models for data analysis. The real influence of the environment to the structure or the structural material is often unaccounted for. That means that the structural resistance is just calculated from the measurements and not determined by sufficient sensors. Another aspect is the fact that most monitoring systems require cabling, which is neither aesthetically appealing nor in some cases applicable due to the needed fastening techniques. The proposed project aims at the development of competitive tools for practitioners which goes beyond the mere accumulation of data. Smart monitoring systems using wireless sensor networks, new miniature sensor technologies (e.g. MEMS) for minimally invasive installation as well as smart data processing will be developed. It will provide help in the sense of warnings (e.g. increase of damaging factors) and recommendations for action (e.g. ventilation or heating on/off, etc.) using data fusion and interpretation that is implemented within the monitoring system. The development will consist of small smart wireless and robust sensors and networks, with sensors for monitoring of e.g. temperature, humidity, air velocity, strain and crack opening, acoustic emissions, vibration, inclination, chemical attack, ambient and UV light, with built-in deterioration and material models, data pre-processing, and alarm functions to inform responsible persons about changes of the object status. Comparative tests will be conducted to validate the models as well as the monitoring data from several case studies. The results of the project will be summarized in a toolbox and a guideline, which will be disseminated at special trainings organized for restorers, owner of cultural heritage and public authorities.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU team developed new sensors, processing software and models for studying degradation of old buildings. Simulations yielded an accurate assessment of deterioration, considering shape and materials, thus providing conservation prognosis.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Europe is rich with historic buildings, but their preservation requires understanding the processes of deterioration. While continuous monitoring systems have been installed on certain monumental structures, such conventional sensors are limited and the resulting analyses simplistic.

Furthermore, most structures are not monitored at all. Hence, a need exists for improved monitoring systems for historic buildings, which the EU-funded 'Smart monitoring of historic structures' (http://www.smoohs.eu (SMOOHS)) project aimed to meet.

The 15-member consortium planned a smart monitoring system using networks of miniature wireless sensors to be attached to buildings. The second goal was to process the system's data according to deterioration models, thus providing warnings and recommendations.

Team members proposed to develop modular, open source software to run the sensor system. Ultimately, the developments were intended to yield a set-and-forget wireless monitoring system that would provide high-quality monitoring and analysis, but at a lower cost than conventional methods. SMOOHS ran for three years to November 2011.

The project established a measurement programme, including various laboratory and on-site tests, in conjunction with laboratory-based analysis involving both samples and real buildings. Thus, the team compiled a diagnostic methodology that constituted an advance on current methods and reliably estimated a structure's condition.

A variety of building materials were subjected to non-destructive and micro-destructive physical testing to determine the effects of environmental pollution and other factors. The group assessed its methods with regard to reliability and applicability to historic structures.

Testing produced improved understanding of deterioration processes. As a result, the project was able to simulate the response of complex multi-material structures. The simulations considered not just the materials themselves, but also the structures' shapes. Such simulations enabled prediction of the onset of deterioration or a prognosis for long-term progression.

The consortium also finalised a knowledge-based expert system and the prototype software.

SMOOHS achieved a network of wireless sensors, combined with analysis systems, which monitor the structural health of historic buildings. The system's warnings and prognosis concerning degradation can be used to help manage the conservation of old buildings.