Structural and foundation monitoring as the building rises

A building’s structure and foundations respond to loads, ground conditions, wind and nearby activity. Instrumentation helps engineers review how structural elements and the surrounding ground behave as construction progresses.

• Structural elements: strain in beams, columns and foundations, plus displacement, tilt and cracking.
• Foundations: settlement, pressure from surrounding soil and water, and pore-water pressure.
• Surrounding ground: movement and deformation of soil or rock.
• Dynamic loads: vibration from traffic, wind, seismic activity and heavy machinery.
• Building systems: water flow where building-system monitoring is required.

• Strain gauges: strain in beams, columns and foundations.
• Displacement sensors and tiltmeters: movement and tilting of walls and structural elements.
• Settlement gauges: vertical movement of foundation elements.
• Piezometers and pressure cells: pore-water pressure and pressure on foundations.
• Inclinometers and extensometers: movement of surrounding soil or rock.
• Accelerometers, vibration and seismic sensors: dynamic loads and ground movement.
• Crack and acoustic emission sensors: crack formation and growth.
• Temperature and humidity sensors: thermal and moisture conditions in building materials.
• GNSS sensors and laser scanning: building position and 3D geometry.
• Flow meters: water flow in building systems where monitoring is required.