Application of Smart 3-D Laser Scanner in Structural Health Monitoring

As one of Full Field Optical Measurement (FFOM) technologies, Smart 3-D Laser Scanner measurement technique enables to monitor the shape and dimension measured-objects in non-contact, remotely and globally. By taking its capability in capturing 3-D spatial information, 3-D Laser Scanner has been utilized effectively in numerous field application, such as, landscaping simulation during structural design stage, bridge load test, and maintenance purposes. In order to provide a rational maintenance strategy, it is important to assess current structural properties of existing structures due to long-term structural degradation, static and dynamic loads [5,7,8]. However, they mostly lack of sufficient information of their spatial shapes and dimensions. In this paper, a structural health monitoringbased maintenance scheme is proposed and its schematic description is shown in Figure 1. The structural health monitoring process is conducted as follows: (i) Conduct initial structural information (shape and dimension); (ii) Capture visible structural degradation factor (crack distribution) and create a data base for current structural condition; (iii) Perform structural analyses to assess its current structural performance; (iv) Monitor their degradation condition periodically (crack propagation), update the crack distribution data base; and (v) Execute fractural-based structural analyses on the deteriorated structures. Through field-application experiences, it is confirmed that 3-D Laser Scanner is an easy-handled device to capture spatial information of shapecomplicated structures. It can be integrated with generic structural health monitoring system to assess the updated structural performance of existing structures. Application of Smart 3-D Laser Scanner in Structural Health Monitoring