A novel technique for very accurate three-dimensional monitoring of structural vibrations and displacement by remote radar sensors

The possibility of remotely sensing vibrations and displacements of industrial and civil infrastructures by exploiting electro-magnetic energy, has received new interest in the last years. In fact, preliminary experiments demonstrate that such a technique, not yet being fully investigated, is quite promising and could provide very accurate results with respect to the system currently being used (e.g. accelerometers). In fact, a radar sensor is able to provide a very accurate estimation of the Line of Sight displacements by continuously monitoring the distance between targets lying on the structures, and radar itself. This paper provides an insight into the potentialities of such a technique for accurate three-dimensional monitoring of structural vibrations and displacements.