SHM at the Civil Infrastructure: Recent Progress & Future Demands

Health monitoring for civil engineering structures is a challenge. Our structures are a prototype each and show small safety margins and a great exposure to the public. The major number of uncertainties in geometry, material properties and the influence of the environment might have a higher impact on monitoring results than any minor damage. Therefore only complex approaches under consideration and compensation of the already known phenomena will be successful. This requires a more or less scientific approach. Nevertheless an appropriate focus on the end-user’s needs must not be forgotten to achieve a more widespread implementation and to increase the acceptance by the clients.