Scientists from Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building (TSUASB) have developed an innovative method for diagnosing the condition of buildings using street cameras, allowing for the autonomous detection of hidden defects and significantly simplifying and reducing the cost of the monitoring process. This method is applied in Russia for the first time.
TSUASB specialists presented a technology that enables monitoring building deformations through street surveillance cameras. This approach is designed to detect deformations, cracks, and other damages to buildings and structures, replacing expensive visual-measuring software complexes and reducing the monitoring period. The program connected to urban cameras automatically scans the building, identifying both open and hidden defects. It requires a camera resolution of 2-4 MP, corresponding to the characteristics of standard video surveillance equipment in the city.
“Andrey Nikitchin, the CEO of the geodetic company ‘AEM Geo’ and an associate professor of the ‘Engineering Geodesy’ department at TSUASB, explains that during construction, operation, or reconstruction, it is crucial that buildings do not undergo significant deformations that can lead to damage or even collapse of the structure. Geodetic monitoring is carried out to ensure the safety of the construction and operational reliability of newly constructed, reconstructed, and nearby objects,” states the report.
The specialist notes that there are currently four main types of methods for monitoring the technical condition of building structures: geodetic methods, inspections of the technical condition of structures, determination of loads, stresses, and deformations in structures using technical measurement means, and dynamic methods.
“The cameras are trained to function similarly to the geodetic method, that is, settlements, tilts, shifts, and cracks opening are recorded. The most dangerous thing can be a collapse, and it is crucial that it is not unexpected. Cameras can timely fix changes, allowing specialists to react, conduct a comprehensive survey if necessary, and take appropriate measures,” explains the expert.
The engineers working on the project are collecting a large database to train the program to recognize markers in various weather conditions, lighting, and angles. It is planned that in case of problems, the program will automatically send a report about the object to the property owner. This method provides comprehensive, round-the-clock scanning of the building, eliminating the need to involve additional specialists and equipment.
Experts believe that this technology can be widely used in the Arctic regions of Russia, where constant building diagnostics is required due to ground instability. The research is part of the “Priority-2030” program and the “Engineering Extreme” project.
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