Robotics in Civil Engineering

This book illustrates the robotics and computer hardware and software applications in Civil Engineering. It tries to identify one or multiple problems where the use of automation, robotic technologies, or advanced management techniques can be applied to provide innovative solutions in civil engineering such as construction works, safety measures of construction site, damage inspection, building analysis etc. At beginning, we discuss the using of intelligent techniques in construction project about cost estimation and mobile imaging and computing for intelligent structural damage inspection. Then we present the nonlinear dynamic analysis of plates stiffened by parallel beams with deformable connection and numerical simulation of particle distribution in capillary membrane during backwash. Automatic method for building indoor boundary models from dense point clouds collected by laser scanners and an aerial-ground robotic system for navigation and obstacle mapping in large outdoor areas are also discussed.In the middle part of the book, we focus on set up of an automated multi-colour system for interior wall painting and a wireless monitoring system for cracks on the surface of reactor containment buildings. Geospatial information categories mapping in a cross-lingual environment: A case study of “Surface Water” categories in Chinese and American topographic maps and passive wireless hermetic environment monitoring system for spray painting workshop are also discussed. We also try to present temporal-spatial evolution analysis of Lake size-distribution in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin using Landsat imagery data and a survey about recent advances and challenges of wall climbing robots.

The last chapters of the book describes bridge deck load testing using sensors and optical survey equipment and laser-based pedestrian tracking in outdoor environments by multiple mobile robots. We also try to find out generation mechanism and prediction model for low frequency noise induced by energy dissipating submerged jets during flood discharge from a high dam and maximum stress estimation model for multi-span Waler beams with deflections at the supports using average strains. At the end, we describe a practical monitoring system for the structural safety of mega-trusses using wireless vibrating wire strain gauges and obtaining the thermal structure of lakes from the air.