Featured Projects
Salesforce Tower Monitoring
While the iconic 326-meter-tall Salesforce Tower in San Francisco was under construction, our team faced a unique challenge: accurately monitoring elevation changes in real-time amidst the challenges presented by the tower's impressive height and the bustling urban environment.
Our solution? A pioneering strain-based system, embedded directly into the tower's reinforced concrete walls. These state-of-the-art strain gages not only provided invaluable data for three advanced shortening estimation models, but they also ensured measurement accuracy, vital for such an ambitious project.
Key Findings:
- An impressive consistency with conventional survey measurements, deviating only within ±0.015'.
- A significant reduction in monitoring costs by around 15%, translating to a saving of 400 labor hours, and minimized potential for project delays.
- Highlighted areas for further refinement, notably in the domain of power supply to sensors.
Beyond the immediate success and cost-saving of the Salesforce Tower project, our findings underscore the potential of such strain-based systems in modern construction, especially as we look towards advancements like wireless and battery-free sensing technologies. Dive into our principal engineer's paper for a deep dive into how this innovative approach is revolutionizing the construction of tall buildings.
Advancing Geospatial Monitoring
At a deep excavation project in Brooklyn, New York, our team tackled a critical challenge: accurately tracking structural movements in real-time to prevent potential hazards. The solution? A cutting-edge monitoring system powered by Automated Motorized Total Stations (AMTS) and a customized statistical framework called Baseline Behavior Analysis (BBA).
How it worked: The system continuously measured movements and adjusted for environmental factors like temperature, ensuring precision. By establishing tailored thresholds based on baseline data, we could identify even the smallest shifts that might indicate trouble ahead.
The Results Speak Volumes:
- Early detection: We identified abnormal movement trends just 25 days into monitoring, providing ample time to address potential risks.
- Enhanced precision: Adjustments reduced measurement variability by 20%, ensuring reliable data.
- Proactive safety: The system flagged a subtle 0.01-foot shift, which stabilized over time, demonstrating the power of early warnings.
This innovative approach not only ensured the safety of the project but also highlighted the potential of advanced geospatial monitoring in urban construction. With tools like the BBA framework, our firm is setting a new standard in real-time hazard detection and infrastructure protection.
