Author: QuakeLogic

Engineering knowledge hub

QuakeLogic

Curated QuakeLogic articles, application notes, and technical explainers for engineering teams.

Earthquake EngineeringStructural Health MonitoringEarthquake Early WarningSeismic SensorsInfrasound MonitoringShake TablesData Acquisition SystemsInfrastructure Monitoring
Areas of expertiseSeismic monitoring, structural health monitoring, testing systems, data acquisition, and applied engineering education.
QuakeLogic QL-SeismoSense Device
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Acoustic Emission Monitoring System Guide

QL-SeismoSense combines high-sensitivity acoustic emission sensors, multi-channel acquisition, FPGA signal processing, and GPS-synchronized timing to detect cracking, fatigue, and material degradation before damage becomes visible.

Jul 5, 20263 min read

DAM FAILURES IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – WHEN A DISASTER HITS, WILL YOU BE PREPARED?

collapsed dam 1 for "DAM FAILURES IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – WHEN A DISASTER HITS, WILL YOU BE PREPARED?"

When disaster strikes, we are all at risk! But the unprepared ones get hit the hardest.

The Edenville Dam collapsed and the Sanford Dam was breached in Midland, Michigan on last Tuesday (May 19) after days of heavy rain. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, residents were ordered to evacuate because of rising waters. The collapsed Edenville Dam, built-in 1924, was rated in unsatisfactory condition while the Sanford Dam, which was built in 1925, was given a fair condition rating by the state.

Are other dams safe in the US?

On average, the nation’s dams are over 50 years old. At least 1,680 dams across the U.S. are currently rated in poor or unsatisfactory condition. These all pose potential risk according to this Associated Press article. Without urgent action, aging dams may not be able to adequately handle the intense rainfall and floods of a changing climate, as happened in the case of the Michigan dams. They may fail to protect people and property in cities and towns located nearby and downstream.

Introducing SMART DAMS

QUAKELOGIC is the only company using a cloud-based, AI-powered technology platform to perform continuous, autonomous structural assessments using data from sensors on the dam structure.

Deploying the QuakeLogic’s SENSOR DATA MANAGEMENT, ASSESSMENT, AND REPOSITORY TECHNOLOGY (SMART) on dams would significantly reduce needed search and inspection efforts in future events.

The SMART integrates manually and digitally read sensor recordings into a fully-automated unified monitoring system. It facilitates the acquisition and analysis of critical sensor data needed by the dam operators for proper operations and maintenance, and most importantly for the safety assessment of the dam.

The SMART helps to collect, organize, and evaluates sensor data routinely, sends immediate notifications upon exceedance of thresholds, and generate PDF reports regularly and on-demand.

collapsed dam 4 for "DAM FAILURES IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – WHEN A DISASTER HITS, WILL YOU BE PREPARED?"

The SMART is a cutting-edge system works with various types of sensors such as accelerometers, tiltmeters, potentiometers, strain gauges, thermocouples, weather stations, piezometers and seepage monitors. Comprehensive analytic information is visible in real-time on the mobile-friendly dashboard, providing proof and peace of mind that a dam is performing as expected.

In addition to SMART, our proprietary earthquake early warning (EEW) alerts provide a window of opportunity for action before earthquake shaking begins at the site. It can also trigger automated actions such as opening spillways, closing roads, etc. when every second counts.

Easy-to-understand, engineering-quality information about the real-time health of the dam supports operators to make informed decisions. Whether planning maintenance activities, or prioritizing critical response actions, QUAKELOGIC has you covered.

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“Dams are vital in all communities. As we move toward recovery from COVID-19, it’s important to support the resiliency of dams by realtime monitoring and ensure that the dam owners have the support, tools, and resources to outsmart disasters.”

Last reviewed: 2026-07-04

Executive Summary

Earthquake early warning combines rapid detection, local or regional algorithms, alert logic, and response procedures before strong shaking reaches a site. This article has been expanded as an engineering resource for readers evaluating earthquake early warning concepts, instrumentation choices, and monitoring workflows. The discussion is educational and should be paired with project-specific review by qualified engineers, applicable codes, owner requirements, and equipment documentation.

Key Takeaways

  • Define the engineering objective before selecting sensors, test equipment, trigger thresholds, or reporting workflows.
  • Use calibrated instrumentation, documented installation practices, time synchronization, and traceable data handling where measurement quality matters.
  • Interpret measured data in context: site conditions, structure type, noise environment, sampling rate, bandwidth, and boundary conditions all affect conclusions.
  • Use authoritative references and project-specific criteria rather than relying on generic thresholds or unsupported performance claims.

Technical Explanation

In practical earthquake early warning work, the engineering system is more than a sensor or a test platform. A credible workflow includes the measurement objective, instrument selection, mounting or boundary conditions, sampling and timing strategy, data validation, event or response detection, engineering review, and reporting. Weakness in any part of that chain can reduce confidence in the final interpretation.

For monitoring applications, engineers should document sensor orientation, coupling, environmental exposure, dynamic range, frequency bandwidth, data logger configuration, clock synchronization, communications, and maintenance procedures. For testing applications, engineers should document input motion, fixture design, payload properties, control limits, safety interlocks, acceptance criteria, and post-test data review.

Engineering Applications

ApplicationEngineering QuestionTypical Evidence Needed
Research and educationHow does a structure, component, or sensor respond under controlled conditions?Test plan, calibrated data, input motion, boundary conditions, and repeatable observations.
Critical infrastructureIs the asset response normal, changing, or potentially unsafe after an event?Baseline data, event records, thresholds, inspection workflow, and engineering sign-off.
Industrial facilitiesCan monitoring support operational continuity and response decisions?Site-specific criteria, reliable telemetry, alarm logic, maintenance records, and documented procedures.

People Also Ask

What should be specified before buying equipment?

Specify the measurement objective, frequency range, amplitude range, environment, data format, timing needs, installation constraints, reporting requirements, and applicable standards or owner criteria.

Why do references and standards matter?

They provide terminology, acceptance criteria, test methods, and documentation expectations. They do not replace engineering judgment, but they reduce ambiguity and make results easier to review.

How should data quality be checked?

Review calibration status, timing, clipping, sensor orientation, signal-to-noise ratio, environmental artifacts, data completeness, and whether the record supports the engineering decision being made.

Related QuakeLogic Resources

References

Recommended Diagram or Download

Media placeholder: Add an original diagram showing the measurement chain from sensor or test platform to data acquisition, analysis, engineering interpretation, and reporting. Where this article becomes a buyer guide or application note, create a downloadable PDF version after engineering review.

Discuss a Monitoring or Testing Application

QuakeLogic supports seismic monitoring, earthquake early warning, structural health monitoring, infrasound monitoring, vibration monitoring, data acquisition, and shake table testing applications. For project-specific guidance, contact QuakeLogic with the asset type, measurement objective, site constraints, and required deliverables.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING TUNNELS FOR PROPER SEISMIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT

  • 15 Jan 2024
  • Blog
  • Comments Off on ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING TUNNELS FOR PROPER SEISMIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT
tunnel 1 for "ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING TUNNELS FOR PROPER SEISMIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT"

Monitoring tunnels for vibrations and deformations is not only critical during the construction phase but also their service life.

In 2012, the Tokyo-bound Sasago Tunnel suffered significant damage when nearly 150 concrete ceiling panels collapsed and crushed three vehicles, including a van carrying six people that caught fire. The deficiencies in mounting components of the ceiling panels were to blame.

But, are tunnels safe during an earthquake?

A common belief that underground structures are safer because they move with the soil, while structures above ground sway back and forth during the earthquakes appears to be misleading. The impact of earthquakes on tunnels can be severe due to ground failures such as liquefaction, strong ground shaking, and fault crossing.

Liquefaction takes place when saturated soft soil deposits loose load-carrying capacity during strong shaking. This phenomenon can cause the ground surrounding tunnels to deform and shift, with potentially severe impacts. The slope instability and fault crossings may also create permanent deformations leading to a collapse of the tunnel.

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the Wrights railway tunnel in southern Santa Cruz mountains was closed for more than a year due to the collapse of approximately 100-m-long part crossing the San Andreas Fault Zone. Another railway tunnel crossing the White Wolf Fault was seriously damaged during the 1952 magnitude 7.5 Kern County earthquake associated with this fault (Kontogianni and Stiros, 2003).

In 1999 a magnitude 7.2 hit the Duzce region in Turkey. Close to the fault rupture, twin highway tunnels on the major highway connecting Ankara to Istanbul were under construction. The tunnels were partially collapsed due to intense pulses of earthquake motion (near-fault effects) as their lines cross the shear zone of the North Anatolian Fault.

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The excavation process during tunnel construction may itself trigger microearthquakes. The vibrations, therefore need to be monitored to identify such seismic activity whether they create any movements or cracks on the tunnel surface. The monitoring vibrations is also needed to estimate the rock formations ahead of the tunnel face to optimize the excavation parameters. Besides, the infrastructure surrounding the tunnel including buildings must be monitored especially in case of construction of new subway (metro) lines.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) system is essential for the seismic resilience of tunnels. A robust real-time SHM system not only allows for assessment of accelerations and deformations (displacements and strains) in tunnel linings but also facilitates the implementation of adaptive risk management. Such a system can assist the officials to make informed and timely decisions to protect people (such as drivers or construction workers) from life-threatening conditions. For example, the highway tunnel can be closed to traffic before any severe consequences take place. Such pro-active actions would not only save lives but also avoid liabilities.

tunnel 5 for "ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING TUNNELS FOR PROPER SEISMIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT"

QuakeLogic is the only company providing cloud-based AI-powered disaster risk management solutions to prevent and reduce human and economic losses risen during and after earthquakes. Our cutting-edge technology platform performs real-time autonomous structural assessments using sensor data and sends rapid notifications after an event with the level of shaking intensity and whether structural integrity is compromised. For tunnels, our platform provides meaningful and easy-to-understand information immediately after an earthquake. This timely and critical information helps the officials to plan their emergency response. We also provide a web-based display where the sensor information can be monitored in real-time. This solution can provide great benefits especially for tunnels under construction phase.

For emergency measures and safety of tunnels, QuakeLogic provides advanced monitoring systems together with real-time and autonomous data analytics.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-04

Executive Summary

Structural health monitoring uses sensors, data acquisition, signal processing, and engineering interpretation to track condition and detect abnormal response. This article has been expanded as an engineering resource for readers evaluating structural health monitoring concepts, instrumentation choices, and monitoring workflows. The discussion is educational and should be paired with project-specific review by qualified engineers, applicable codes, owner requirements, and equipment documentation.

Key Takeaways

  • Define the engineering objective before selecting sensors, test equipment, trigger thresholds, or reporting workflows.
  • Use calibrated instrumentation, documented installation practices, time synchronization, and traceable data handling where measurement quality matters.
  • Interpret measured data in context: site conditions, structure type, noise environment, sampling rate, bandwidth, and boundary conditions all affect conclusions.
  • Use authoritative references and project-specific criteria rather than relying on generic thresholds or unsupported performance claims.

Technical Explanation

In practical structural health monitoring work, the engineering system is more than a sensor or a test platform. A credible workflow includes the measurement objective, instrument selection, mounting or boundary conditions, sampling and timing strategy, data validation, event or response detection, engineering review, and reporting. Weakness in any part of that chain can reduce confidence in the final interpretation.

For monitoring applications, engineers should document sensor orientation, coupling, environmental exposure, dynamic range, frequency bandwidth, data logger configuration, clock synchronization, communications, and maintenance procedures. For testing applications, engineers should document input motion, fixture design, payload properties, control limits, safety interlocks, acceptance criteria, and post-test data review.

Engineering Applications

ApplicationEngineering QuestionTypical Evidence Needed
Research and educationHow does a structure, component, or sensor respond under controlled conditions?Test plan, calibrated data, input motion, boundary conditions, and repeatable observations.
Critical infrastructureIs the asset response normal, changing, or potentially unsafe after an event?Baseline data, event records, thresholds, inspection workflow, and engineering sign-off.
Industrial facilitiesCan monitoring support operational continuity and response decisions?Site-specific criteria, reliable telemetry, alarm logic, maintenance records, and documented procedures.

People Also Ask

What should be specified before buying equipment?

Specify the measurement objective, frequency range, amplitude range, environment, data format, timing needs, installation constraints, reporting requirements, and applicable standards or owner criteria.

Why do references and standards matter?

They provide terminology, acceptance criteria, test methods, and documentation expectations. They do not replace engineering judgment, but they reduce ambiguity and make results easier to review.

How should data quality be checked?

Review calibration status, timing, clipping, sensor orientation, signal-to-noise ratio, environmental artifacts, data completeness, and whether the record supports the engineering decision being made.

Related QuakeLogic Resources

References

Recommended Diagram or Download

Media placeholder: Add an original diagram showing the measurement chain from sensor or test platform to data acquisition, analysis, engineering interpretation, and reporting. Where this article becomes a buyer guide or application note, create a downloadable PDF version after engineering review.

Discuss a Monitoring or Testing Application

QuakeLogic supports seismic monitoring, earthquake early warning, structural health monitoring, infrasound monitoring, vibration monitoring, data acquisition, and shake table testing applications. For project-specific guidance, contact QuakeLogic with the asset type, measurement objective, site constraints, and required deliverables.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROPER MONITORING OF BRIDGES FOR EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION AND INTERVENTION

  • 15 Jan 2024
  • Blog
  • Comments Off on WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROPER MONITORING OF BRIDGES FOR EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION AND INTERVENTION
dis bridge monitoring for "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROPER MONITORING OF BRIDGES FOR EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION

There are about 56,000 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S., and these bridges accommodate on average 188 million trips each day according to data from the Federal Highway Administration.

The nation’s transportation infrastructure is aging. More than 200,000 bridges are now more than 50 years old, and many are approaching the end of their design life. Although the seismic construction requirements are aimed to protect the lives of those crossing bridges. The number of bridges that are in such poor condition as to be considered structurally deficient is increasing and posing potential risk.

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Fourteen years ago, the Interstate 35 bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis collapsed. The cars, trucks and even a school bus were driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic across in the evening rush hour. Bridge’s failure plummeted them into the water and onto the rocky river banks. This disaster left a death toll of thirteen and injured 145. The officials were warned that the bridge was structurally deficient due to significant corrosion in its bearings. A federal inspection also rated the bridge structurally deficient, giving it a 50 on a scale of 100 for structural stability.

bridges 4 for "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROPER MONITORING OF BRIDGES FOR EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION AND

In 2018, another horrific bridge collapse occurred in the Florida International University campus in Miami. The failed pedestrian bridge killed six and injured eight people. The bridge was under construction and the errors in the design overestimated how much stress the structure could take.

The question arose about the cause of the collapse of bridges and whether they could have been prevented.

Emergent technologies in sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing are now remedying engineers to construct stronger bridges and also improve bridge maintenance for longer life-span. To provide continuous feedback on the bridge’s structural conditions, sensors supporting structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are being installed into both new and existing bridges.

A robust SHM system, including various sensors and data analytics to monitor the bridge’s real-time integrity, can provide officials and engineers with the knowledge and “peace of mind” that the bridge is performing as expected, and the ability to detect a change in its performance. This knowledge and ability are critical because they are directly responsible for the consequences of failure. To prevent catastrophic collapses, especially the bridges that require significant maintenance, rehabilitation, or replacement can significantly benefit from the SHM system to monitor its elements founds to be in poor condition due to deterioration or damage.

bridges 5 for "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROPER MONITORING OF BRIDGES FOR EARLY DAMAGE DETECTION AND

At QuakeLogic, we provide the most comprehensive SHM system for bridges. We are the only company with a cloud-based, AI-powered technology platform performing autonomous structural assessments using sensor data. Our platform sends rapid notifications with the level of shaking intensity in case of an earthquake and whether the bridge’s integrity is compromised. This system can not only monitor for earthquakes but also utilize data from various sensors such as accelerometers, potentiometers, inclinometers, strain gauges, thermocouples, and weather stations. Our platform sends meaningful and easy-to-understand information. This timely and critical information helps the bridge officials and engineers to give informed decisions and plan their responses appropriately.

Our structural health monitoring platform response matches for the first time the timing of the earthquake impact, which was impossible before. This platform can provide timely information that is needed for an understanding of the performance of a bridge and address problems earlier to improve public safety.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-04

Executive Summary

Structural health monitoring uses sensors, data acquisition, signal processing, and engineering interpretation to track condition and detect abnormal response. This article has been expanded as an engineering resource for readers evaluating structural health monitoring concepts, instrumentation choices, and monitoring workflows. The discussion is educational and should be paired with project-specific review by qualified engineers, applicable codes, owner requirements, and equipment documentation.

Key Takeaways

  • Define the engineering objective before selecting sensors, test equipment, trigger thresholds, or reporting workflows.
  • Use calibrated instrumentation, documented installation practices, time synchronization, and traceable data handling where measurement quality matters.
  • Interpret measured data in context: site conditions, structure type, noise environment, sampling rate, bandwidth, and boundary conditions all affect conclusions.
  • Use authoritative references and project-specific criteria rather than relying on generic thresholds or unsupported performance claims.

Technical Explanation

In practical structural health monitoring work, the engineering system is more than a sensor or a test platform. A credible workflow includes the measurement objective, instrument selection, mounting or boundary conditions, sampling and timing strategy, data validation, event or response detection, engineering review, and reporting. Weakness in any part of that chain can reduce confidence in the final interpretation.

For monitoring applications, engineers should document sensor orientation, coupling, environmental exposure, dynamic range, frequency bandwidth, data logger configuration, clock synchronization, communications, and maintenance procedures. For testing applications, engineers should document input motion, fixture design, payload properties, control limits, safety interlocks, acceptance criteria, and post-test data review.

Engineering Applications

ApplicationEngineering QuestionTypical Evidence Needed
Research and educationHow does a structure, component, or sensor respond under controlled conditions?Test plan, calibrated data, input motion, boundary conditions, and repeatable observations.
Critical infrastructureIs the asset response normal, changing, or potentially unsafe after an event?Baseline data, event records, thresholds, inspection workflow, and engineering sign-off.
Industrial facilitiesCan monitoring support operational continuity and response decisions?Site-specific criteria, reliable telemetry, alarm logic, maintenance records, and documented procedures.

People Also Ask

What should be specified before buying equipment?

Specify the measurement objective, frequency range, amplitude range, environment, data format, timing needs, installation constraints, reporting requirements, and applicable standards or owner criteria.

Why do references and standards matter?

They provide terminology, acceptance criteria, test methods, and documentation expectations. They do not replace engineering judgment, but they reduce ambiguity and make results easier to review.

How should data quality be checked?

Review calibration status, timing, clipping, sensor orientation, signal-to-noise ratio, environmental artifacts, data completeness, and whether the record supports the engineering decision being made.

Related QuakeLogic Resources

References

Recommended Diagram or Download

Media placeholder: Add an original diagram showing the measurement chain from sensor or test platform to data acquisition, analysis, engineering interpretation, and reporting. Where this article becomes a buyer guide or application note, create a downloadable PDF version after engineering review.

Discuss a Monitoring or Testing Application

QuakeLogic supports seismic monitoring, earthquake early warning, structural health monitoring, infrasound monitoring, vibration monitoring, data acquisition, and shake table testing applications. For project-specific guidance, contact QuakeLogic with the asset type, measurement objective, site constraints, and required deliverables.