Development of a structural health monitoring system for guangzhou new TV tower

A long-term structural health monitoring (SHM) system consisting of more than 600 sensors has been designed and is being implemented by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to the Guangzhou New TV Tower (GNTVT) of 610 m high. This monitoring system is one of few SHM practices that integrate in-construction monitoring and in-service monitoring. It is also designed to perform a special function of verifying the effectiveness of vibration control devices to be installed on the tower. The sensory system for in-construction monitoring includes a weather station, a total station, anemometers, zenithal telescopes, level sensors, theodolites, global positioning systems, vibrating wire gauges, thermometers, digital video cameras, and accelerometers (for ambient vibration monitoring at several construction stages), and the sensory system for in-service monitoring includes a weather station, anemometers, wind pressure sensors, vibrating wire gauges, thermometers, global positioning systems, digital video cameras, accelerometers, a seismograph, corrosion sensors, tiltmeters, and fiber optic sensors (for dynamic strain and temperature monitoring). The strain and temperature at the inner structure during construction are continuously monitored by a wireless data acquisition system. This paper outlines the design and implementation of this SHM system.