With the close proximity of buildings in urban areas today, commercial construction and demolition can create significant risks to existing buildings. However, with old buildings being demolished and new ones being built every day around the world, we have to adapt and ensure vibration damage is minimized. Monitoring and analyzing the potential and current impacts of construction and demolition projects are some of the most important roles for forensic engineering experts. Here’s how the technology works and why it’s so important.
What Exactly is Vibration Monitoring?
Throughout the vibration monitoring process, seismographic equipment records ground movement created by demolition and construction activity. Every structure has a vibration threshold, so when a sensor detects a vibration above the threshold, an alert is signaled to the construction crew working on the project. These real-time alerts can actually save a building envelope from being partially damaged or, in the worst-case scenario, completely destroyed.
Nearby Structures Could Be Affected by Demolitions
Every structure can withstand different levels of vibrations. And just because a vibration can be felt in a nearby building, it doesn’t necessarily mean any amount of damage has been done. Many business owners have concerns about the structural glass design of their building, but the reality is it’s measured just like any building envelope. Experts take the building material into consideration when analyzing construction and demolition vibrations, and special care is taken if a particular building has a low tolerance for structural vibrations.
The Role of Forensic Engineering
Forensic engineering plays a large role in determining how safe it is to proceed with a construction or demolition project. It starts by conducting pre-project surveys of nearby structures to determine whether there is any existing damage and to analyze the vibration tolerance of the building. Even the smallest cracks in a foundation can increase the chances of vibration damage.
Once the construction or demolition project is complete, forensic engineers survey the surrounding structures again to compare the reports. They will analyze the data from the vibration monitoring devices and determine whether any potential damage was caused by vibrations from the project. These detailed records are critical when potentially filing a claim on damage to a building.
At BE Structural, we have a team of forensic engineering experts with years of experience in monitoring and analyzing construction and demolition projects. Our role is to ensure the safety of every nearby structure that could be affected by vibrations. For more information about what we do and how we can help with your construction or demolition-related projects, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.