Completed Research 1995 to 2006

Theme 3 (1995-1999):
Intelligent Processing and Remote Monitoring

Director: Dr. Aftab Mufti, Dalhousie University

As a co-founder of ISIS Canada and its first Vice-President, Dr. Aftab Mufti directed Theme 3 from the outset.  The objective in 1995 was to develop the technology and software necessary to intelligently process and transmit, via telephone or satellite, the structural sensing information provided by integrated fibre optic sensors. This research comprised the following:

• Development and testing of portable data acquisition systems for remote monitoring and data collection.

• Development of a low-cost, small and robust data acquisition system with low power consumption to be left on-site for continuous monitoring.

• Field assessment of the behaviour of simply-supported and continuous steel-free bridge decks.

• Field assessment of optical fibre sensors.

• Field evaluation of FRPs for reinforcement for shear, flexure and prestressing.

• Development of smart reinforcements for innovative structures by modifying the pultrusion manufacturing technology to allow for incorporation of the fibre optic sensors with FRP reinforcements.

• Development of innovative rod and cable connectors for the optic sensors.

In 1995, Theme 3 had the following group of projects within its research program.

Remote Monitoring and Communications (T3.1a)
Project Leader: Dr. Aftab Mufti, Dalhousie University

Network for Intelligent Sensors (T3.1b)
Project Leader: Dr. Ged McLean, University of Victoria

Intelligent Processing of Sensor Data (T3.2)
Project Leader: Dr. S. Pantazopoulou, University of Toronto

Field Measurements and Assessments (T3.3)
Project Leader: Dr. M. Erki, Royal Military College

Salmon River Bridge (T3.3a)
Project Leader: Dr. Aftab Mufti, Dalhousie University
See Field Demo

Manitoba Bridge (T3.3b)
Project Leader: Dr. Sami Rizkalla, University of Manitoba
See Field Demo

See Field Demo

Smart Reinforcements and Connectors (T3.4)
Project Leader: Dr. Alex Kalamkarov, Dalhousie University

The research within the foregoing projects was organized so that, collectively, the results of the joint undertaking would achieve the objectives of the initial Theme 3, as outlined in the foregoing Theme Overview provided on this web site.

Achievements of Theme 3 by the spring of 1997 were as follows:

• Selected and tested two portable data acquisition systems that could be used for remote data collection.
• Installed over 100 fibre optic sensors planned for monitoring six bridges across the country in cooperation with Theme 2.
• Completed development of the signal processing package (SPGR) to be used by ISIS Canada field monitoring teams.
• Evaluated the load-sharing properties of the Salmon River steel-free bridge deck from available data recorded by the monitoring team.
• Produced the first generation of smart FRP reinforcement with integrated fibre optic sensors.

Completed Research 1995 to 2006