Enhanced Port Vulnerability Assessment Using Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicle-Based Structural Health Monitoring

Abstract

Port vulnerability assessment is inherently linked to the delivery of sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Identifying the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of a port system allows for the minimization of disaster effects and optimization of maintenance, repair, or mitigation actions. The current port vulnerability assessment practices are built upon the examination of a diversity of indicators (parameters), including technical, physical, environmental, and socioeconomic pressures. From an engineering perspective, and given that ports are tangible infrastructure assets, their vulnerability is highly affected by the structural condition of their facilities. Hence, the present research seeks to enhance port vulnerability assessment by introducing structural condition parameters based on Structural Health Monitoring applications. The four fishing and leisure harbors of the Municipality of Thebes, located in central Greece, were used as a case study. Two approaches were considered for the harbors’ vulnerability assessments: (a) enabling and (b) disabling the use of the proposed parameters. In situ inspections were conducted with the employment of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for condition monitoring. UAV data were analyzed to generate geospatial images that allow for the mapping and detecting of defects and failures in port infrastructure. The overall research assists decision-makers in gaining valuable insight into the system’s vulnerabilities and prioritizing their interventions.

Advancing a Non-Contact Structural and Prognostic Health Assessment of Large Critical Structures

“…Remote sensing technology has become indispensable in today’s world, offering a safe and efficient means to collect crucial data, thus providing invaluable insight that informs decision-making across various disciplines [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. An exemplar of this is the recent COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for remote sensing for inspections or monitoring.…”

“…Indeed, UAV-based structural health assessment strategies are widely reported, especially for inspecting and monitoring large structures or facilities. Several real-life case studies of these works include those reported in [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 ]. Furthermore, the study by Tsaimou et al [ 14 ] resembles the work presented in this paper.…”