Dynamic Structural Identification Using an Embedded System with MEMS Sensors Mounted on a Moving Vehicle

The integration of MEMS (Micro ElectroMechanical Systems) technology into Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has opened new possibilities for dynamic structure identification. SHM is essential for ensuring the safety and longevity of infrastructure. Traditional methods rely on fixed sensors mounted on structures, which can be costly and difficult to deploy on a large scale. An alternative approach is indirect monitoring using instrumented vehicles, which can provide valuable structural response data while in motion. This study investigates the feasibility of identifying the dynamic characteristics of a bridge using a vehicle equipped with a MEMS accelerometer and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The developed data acquisition system captures vibrations as the vehicle crosses the bridge, with GNSS providing spatial localization and time synchronization to correlate the collected data with stationary sensors already installed on the bridge. Data analysis using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) compares the extracted frequencies from the moving vehicle with those from fixed accelerometers, serving as a benchmark. The findings indicate potential in this indirect monitoring approach for structural health monitoring applications and suggest that this method can successfully detect the bridges modal frequencies, demonstrating its potential as a cost-effective and scalable alternative for SHM.