In our country, structural health monitoring has been in the country for almost three

decades. It started with research works before applying it in the field of structural engineering. With
the help of the academicians, development of sensors used in vibration and seismic studies helped
to improve existing methods. Tools like seismic fragility curves, vulnerability assessments were the
links to understand further the monitoring of buildings and transportation lifelines like bridges, light
rail transit, and the like.

In recent times, seismic forces for engineers are unavoidable in their designs, especially that
of infrastructures. Structural response is very important to the structural engineer when he is
dealing with the earthquake hazard. In today’s practice of structural engineering, data from previous
earthquake event’s structural response especially that of bridges are crucial in understanding the
principle of performance-based design (PBD) of structures. These data can be captured through
recording these structural responses, such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration, by the system
known as structural health monitoring (SHM); thus, paving the way for building instrumentation. The
process of implementing a damage identification strategy for aerospace, civil and mechanical
engineering infrastructure; referred to as structural health monitoring (SHM).

Damage is defined as a change to the material and/or geometric properties of the structural
system, including changes to the boundary conditions and system connectivity, which adversely
affect the system's performance. In most general term, 'failure' refers to any action leading to an
inability on the part of a structure or machine to function in the intended manner defined the term
damage as a deficiency or deterioration in the strength of the structure, caused by external loading
or environmental conditions or human errors. Structural failures refer to loss of the load-carrying
capacity of a component or member within a structure or of the structure as a whole beyond a
threshold. The ultimate failure strength of the material, component or system is its maximum load-
bearing capacity is reduced permanently, significantly and quickly. In a well-designed system, a
localized failure should not cause immediate or even progressive collapse of the entire structure.
Ultimate failure strength is one of the limit states that must be accounted for in structural
engineering and structural design. To avoid collapse/accident, localized damage should be detected
timely for taking appropriate measure.

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) consists of embedding sensors in a structure to

periodically monitor its health. The main purpose for this are to intensify safety, optimize, and
anticipate maintenance operations, and to extend the working life of the structure. Longer term
applications of SHM consist of reducing mechanical safety margins with subsequent weight savings.
SHM emerges from the field of smart structures and encompasses various disciplines such as
materials, fatigue, non-destructive testing, sensors, signal processing, communication systems, and
decision-making processes. It is an emerging field, with a very active research community, and the
initial industrial deployments are being demonstrated as effective. SHM is at the beginning of the
structuring process, with standardization of the techniques and methodologies still being worked on.
However, major developments are expected in the near future due to the current tremendous
progress of embedded device technologies in daily use brought about by Internet of things
applications.