Bridge structural safety monitoring system and method thereof

• US 20110044509A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Applied Research Laboratories (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Applied Research Laboratories (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Liao, Tai-Shan, Hsu, Chia-Wei, Huang, Chi-Hung, Wei, Tzu-Hsuan, Wen, Jen-Yu, Chen, Yung-Hsiang, Chiang, Wei-Chieh
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/107
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 22/00 Methods or apparatus for repairing or strengthening existing bridges electrochemical desalination or re-alkalisation C04B41/00; Methods or apparatus for dismantling bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach

Abstract

The present invention discloses a bridge structural safety monitoring system and a bridge structural safety monitoring method. The method includes the steps of capturing an image of a monitoring area of a bridge to create a standard image of the bridge operated at normal conditions, capturing images of the monitoring area of the bridge continuously to obtain monitoring images, comparing the standard image with the monitoring image to obtain a displacement correlation coefficient of the monitoring area of the bridge, and transmitting the displacement correlation coefficient to a central console, such that the central console can determine the using condition of the bridge according to the displacement correlation coefficient.

Claims

1. A bridge structural safety monitoring system, comprising:

an imaging optical system module arranged for capturing an image of at least one monitoring area of a bridge to create a standard image under a normal operation condition of the bridge, and continuously capturing images of the monitoring area to obtain a plurality of monitoring images;

an image correlation computing module arranged for comparing the standard image with the plurality of monitoring images to obtain a plurality of displacement correlation coefficients of the monitoring area of the bridge; and

a central console arranged for receiving each displacement correlation coefficient, and determining a using condition of the bridge according to each displacement correlation coefficient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image correlation computing module is connected to a network communication module, and the network communication module transmits the displacement correlation coefficient, the standard image and the plurality of monitoring images to the central console.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring area of the bridge comprises a plurality of sub-structures that may be deformed.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sub-structure is at least one selected from the collection of a bridge pier, a bridge deck and a bridge column.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the imaging optical system module monitors a relative displacement in a different direction among the sub-structures.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the imaging optical system module includes a data monitoring mode and an image monitoring mode, and the data monitoring mode transmits the displacement correlation coefficient to the central console, and the image monitoring mode transmits the monitoring image to the central console.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the central console is situated at a position away from the bridge, and provided for controlling the imaging optical system module, and switching the imaging optical system module between the data monitoring mode and the image monitoring mode.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the central console further comprises an early-warning system for issuing a warning signal if the displacement correlation coefficient of the early-warning system reaches a critical deformation value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the central console is switched from the data monitoring mode to the image monitoring mode when the displacement correlation coefficient of the central console is abnormal.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the displacement correlation coefficient approaches the critical deformation value, if the displacement coefficient is abnormal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the central console adds or updates an application program required for the imaging optical system module and the image correlation computing module.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging optical system module comprises an optical lens, an optoelectronic conversion device and an active light source.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the image correlation computing module receives the standard image and the monitoring image captured by the imaging optical system module, and simplifies the standard image and the monitoring image, and computes the monitoring image at different timing to obtain the displacement correlation coefficient of the monitoring image at different timing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the image correlation computing module uses the standard image as a standard for comparing and converting the surface characteristic, shape, and color of each monitoring image at a different timing into the displacement correlation coefficient.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging optical system module further comprises an electric power module for receiving a utility power to supply an electric power required by the imaging optical system module.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electric power module comprises:

an energy storage unit arranged for receiving a utility power, storing the electric power into the energy storage unit, and supplying the electric power to the imaging optical system module if the energy storage unit has not received the utility power; and

a power management unit arranged for evaluating whether or not the energy storage unit has received the utility power, and controlling the energy storage unit to store the electric power or supply the electric power.

17. A bridge structural safety monitoring method, comprising the steps of:

using an imaging optical system module to obtain at least one standard image of at least one monitoring area of a bridge at a normal operation condition;

using the imaging optical system module to take photos of each monitoring area continuously to obtain a plurality of monitoring images of the monitoring area;

using an image correlation computing module and an image data comparison method to compare the standard image with each the monitoring image, so as to obtain a displacement correlation coefficient of a relative displacement among structures of the bridge; and

transmitting the displacement correlation coefficient to a central console.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the image data comparison method further comprises the steps of comparing the surface characteristics, shape, and color of the standard image of the monitoring area with each monitoring image obtained at a different timing, and converting a comparison result into the displacement correlation coefficient.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein if the central console evaluates the displacement correlation coefficient has reached a critical deformation value, an early-warning system installed to the central console will issue a warning signal to the bridge.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the central console evaluates the displacement correlation coefficient is abnormal, the central console will drive the imaging optical system module to be switched from a data monitoring mode into an image monitoring mode, and the data monitoring mode transmits the displacement correlation coefficient to the central console, and the image monitoring mode transmits the monitoring image to the central console.