Building Risk Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor Network

Buildings are subjected to natural hazards, such as earthquakes and winds, and man-made hazards, such as fires and crimes, during their long-term use. To mitigate these hazards, monitoring these risks by sensing certain types of physical values is necessary. Recently, a smart sensor based on the Berkeley Mote platform was introduced, and an application to the next generation of structural health monitoring and control was proposed [1, 2]. The Mote has on-board microprocessor and ready-made wireless communication capabilities. In this paper, the performance of the Mote is investigated through shaking table tests employing a two-story steel structure. The acceleration sensor is tested, and its performance for wireless measurement and specific risk monitoring applications, such as damage detection in the structure, is presented. The feasibility of risk monitoring for buildings is also discussed.