2025
Special Issue: Remote Sensing based Intelligent Visual Analytics for Real-time Environmental and Earth Monitoring Systems

Special Issue: Remote Sensing based Intelligent Visual Analytics for Real-time Environmental and Earth Monitoring Systems

Leveraging Steel Structures to Measure Real-Time Environmental Hazardous Seismic Activity: A Comprehensive Review

Published 2025-12-13

  • Husain Rangwala
    • ,
  • Dr. Tarak Vora

Husain Rangwala
Department of Civil Engineering, Marwadi University, Rajkot, India

Dr. Tarak Vora
Department of Civil Engineering, Marwadi University, Rajkot, India

Abstract

Steel structures are a potential network of distributed sensors to do real-time seismic surveillance and detect environmental hazards. This review discusses the state-of-the-art in existing ways to leverage steel buildings, bridges, and infrastructure as integrated seismic monitoring systems. The present study examines sensor technologies, real-time extensions, communication frameworks, and analytical structures and mechanisms that allow steel structures to serve as both structural resources and environmental apparatus. The combination of accelerometers, strain sensors, fiber-optic systems, and wireless networks turns steel structures into active seismic observatories that will record, characterize, and report real-time dangerous seismic activities. This method has major benefits compared to conventional seismic networks, such as an increased spatial resolution, structure-specific damage, and real-time post-event safety assessment. Some of the major problems are longevity of sensors, bandwidth, variability of the environment, and the necessity to have standardized benchmarking protocols. This review suggests a roadmap through which researchers, engineers, and policymakers can contribute to the development of the field at practical stages of a large-scale implementation. Future research includes multi-sensor fusion, edge computing, the incorporation of digital twins, and field validation research.

Keywords

Structural Health Monitoring, Steel Structures, Real-Time Seismic Monitoring, System Identification, Wireless Sensor Networks, Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)

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