30/07/2014
The consortium led by Misturas is developing a project to monitor sea walls deterioration
A consortium headed by Misturas is developing a specialised management system aimed at precisely measuring and monitoring the evolution and deterioration of sea walls. More in particular, this project is focused on one of the most common typologies of outer docks, the one with slope section, inner core and superposition of layers of loose parts, such as the one in Punta Langosteira (Outer dock of A Coruña).
Nowadays, the decision making related to the maintenance of these big infrastructures —which are currently very exposed to wave action because of their location in outer port areas to receive big vessels— is made on the basis of qualitative data and without specific quantitative information. Moreover, data collection is expensive, including photogrammetric flights, manual restoration to obtain results, multibeam bathymetry through vessels, etc.
The displacement of parts composing the layers reveals that the structure is weakening, so this project, known as PortoExpert, is aimed at monitoring the condition of docks so that a hypothetical failure can be detected in good time. The final goal is to issue early warnings, both to save human and material resources in case of repairs and minimise the risks of a breakdown.
This system will combine advanced geomatics techniques based on modern analytical methods, such as mobile LiDAR, multibeam bathymetry or wireless sensor networks, cameras to measure wave height, and specific hydrodynamic models to forecast the influence of storms on protection structures.
The project has already moved forward as for the integration of LiDAR systems on vessels for inspection purposes, thanks to the onsite research conducted in Bouzas’ breakwater (Port of Vigo), development of algorithms to estimate the movement of huge blocks composing the layers, measurement of the rise of waves using fixed cameras located in Punta Langosteira, and SPH simulation of waves rising and incoming waves with scale structures.
PortoExpert has received funds from Axencia Galega de Innovación (Galician Innovation Agency), through the programme Conecta Peme 2013. Besides Misturas, the consortium developing the project is made up by the Universities of Vigo and A Coruña and the companies Proyestegal and HCTech.