Authors: D. Ribeiro, R. Santos, R. Cabral, G. Saramago, R. Calçada

This article describes a methodology applied to the estimation of displacements in Civil Engineering structures based on video systems integrated in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Given that the structure and the UAV are both in motion, the estimate of displacements involves, initially, the evaluation of the structure-UAV relative displacements, based on the tracking of a target, and afterwards, the subtraction of the UAV movements based on the data from an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). For that purpose, heuristic image processing tools for target tracking were developed, in addition to the implementation of a numerical integration strategy for the IMU data processing. The validation of the methodology was based on dynamic tests performed in the laboratory and in the field. The developed methodology demonstrated efficiency and robustness in the estimation of absolute displacements and with potential for integration in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems.

D. Ribeiro¹ | R. Santos¹ | R. Cabral² | G. Saramago³ | R. Calçada⁴
1 CONSTRUCT, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Portugal
2 Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Brasil
3 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
4 CONSTRUCT, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal