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Dr. Nemkumar Banthia

Dr. Nemkumar Banthia, Killam University Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia gave a  guest lecture on Sensor-Based Structural Health Monitoring on 23 January. M.Tech students, research interns, Ph.D scholars, and faculty members attended the lecture. Dr. Banthia provided a comprehensive overview of essential aspects of the need for sensors to monitor structure’s behavior constantly. He highlighted the need to unify civil and electronic engineering for safer and more efficient structural designs. He also emphasized prospects for India in the domain of sensor-based monitoring for not only structures but broader domains.

He also showed case studies, including a bridge collapse in Montreal, highlighting that the incident could have been prevented had there been sensors installed at the piers and foundation of the bridge. He reported that the inability to constantly monitor foundational behaviour and reliance on manpower that produces relatively inaccurate inspection reports are among the causes of structural collapses. This was followed by a segment highlighting the importance of sensors in water supply networks, which are used to maintain temperatures and chemical levels, detect leaks in pipelines, etc.

The final segment of the lecture involved a detailed look into different types of sensors actively used in different industrial domains. Bridge girder sensors to monitor loads on the bridge deck and pier and foundation sensors to check pier loads due to water flow and ice sheet formation (a common phenomenon in Canada) were discussed. He explained how smart concrete patches can detect leakages in the water supply. These sensors detect conductivity changes to identify the presence of water and cracks. Installation of nano carbon tubes can be an innovative approach to make concrete conductive and help in faster and more accurate data collection for the sensors. Other sensors included Medium Recognition Sensors for indoor flood detection, railway track damages, and monitoring water movement in soil.

Dr. Banthia also emphasized the need to integrate civil engineering and the IOT sensor industry for better load calculations, efficient design, and, eventually, safer structures that can withstand the test of time. This was a very engaging and insightful discussion, with active participation from the attendees. This discussion enriched the overall exploration of the topic and its significance in structural safety and integrity for constructions in India, with Canada being one of the benchmarks for sensor-based structural health monitoring.

 January 2024