Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

PerfectDecibel provides advanced Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Monitoring solutions based on Gantner Instruments' modular data acquisition systems for Bridges and Civil Infrastructure.

Reference Project : Metro do Porto – Ferreirinha Bridge

Structural Health Monitoring During Construction of the New Ferreirinha Bridge 

PerfectDecibel was selected by Metro do Porto to supply the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system for the new Ferreirinha Bridge, currently under construction as part of the Ruby Line expansion.

The monitoring solution is based on Gantner Instruments' distributed data acquisition platform, providing high-precision, synchronized measurements throughout the different construction phases. The system enables continuous monitoring of the bridge's structural behaviour, supporting engineers with reliable real-time data to ensure construction quality, structural integrity and long-term safety.

Measurement System

The installed monitoring system includes:
  • Q.station 101 – Real-Time Controllers / Data Concentrators
  • Q.bloxx A105 – Temperature Measurement Modules
  • Q.bloxx A108 – Voltage and Current Measurement Modules
  • Q.bloxx A111 BNC – IEPE Accelerometer Measurement Modules
  • RS-485 to Fibre Optic Converters – Long-distance communication
  • GI.bench – Perpetual License for Data Acquisition, Monitoring and Analysis

Measurement Capabilities

The monitoring system acquires synchronized measurements of:

  • Structural vibrations
  • Accelerations
  • Strain
  • Voltage and Current
  • Temperature
  • Distributed field data over fibre-optic communication

The modular architecture of the Gantner platform allows future expansion while maintaining deterministic real-time performance and synchronized data acquisition across all measurement channels.

International Recognition

This project has been internationally recognised by Gantner Instruments as a featured Success Story, highlighting the deployment of its distributed data acquisition platform for the structural health monitoring of Porto's new Ferreirinha Bridge. The article presents the project's engineering challenges, the implemented DAQ architecture and the benefits of continuous structural monitoring during construction.

Read the full Success Story: Monitoring Porto's New 400-Meter Metro Bridge

Reference Project : Modernization of the Structural Health Monitoring System of the 25 de Abril Bridge


PerfectDecibel was selected by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) to supply Gantner Instruments' data acquisition equipment as part of the modernization and upgrade of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system of the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon.

The project is being carried out in close collaboration with the Structural Observation Unit of the Structures Department at LNEC (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil), Portugal's leading research institution in civil engineering.

The modernization represents a major upgrade of the existing monitoring infrastructure, ensuring enhanced measurement performance, improved system reliability and long-term support for one of Portugal's most important transportation assets.

System Upgrade

The project includes the installation and integration of:

  • 5 × Q.station 101 Real-Time Controllers
  • Approximately 32 additional Gantner Q.series measurement modules
  • RS-485 to Fibre Optic communication converters
  • GI.bench Data Acquisition and Monitoring Software

The new Gantner platform is fully integrated with the existing monitoring infrastructure, providing a scalable architecture that supports future expansion while maintaining synchronized, deterministic real-time data acquisition across all measurement channels.


Project Objectives

The upgraded Structural Health Monitoring system provides continuous monitoring of the bridge's structural behaviour through synchronized measurements of:

  • Structural strain
  • Acceleration and vibration
  • Temperature
  • Voltage and current
  • Environmental parameters
  • Long-distance distributed measurements via fibre-optic communication

International Recognition

The modernization of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system of the 25 de Abril Bridge has been featured internationally by Gantner Instruments as a Success Story.

The article highlights more than two decades of continuous structural monitoring on one of Europe's most iconic suspension bridges and describes the ongoing migration from the original Gantner e.bloxx platform to the latest Q.series architecture. It also emphasizes the importance of long-term monitoring, synchronized distributed data acquisition and the backward-compatible upgrade strategy that ensures the continued operation of the existing SHM infrastructure.

Read the full Success Story:

Two Decades of Reliable Structural Health Monitoring – 25 de Abril Bridge, Lisbon

Reference Project : Structural Health Monitoring of the Xarrama Railway Bridge


PerfectDecibel participated in the deployment of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system for the Xarrama Railway Bridge, located on the Évora Railway Line, one of Portugal's strategic railway corridors.

The monitoring system was developed by NewMENSUS within the REV@CONSTRUCTION – Digital Construction Revolution project, providing continuous structural monitoring throughout the bridge's operational life. The project demonstrates how distributed data acquisition technologies can support predictive maintenance and improve the long-term safety, reliability and availability of railway infrastructure.

Measurement System

The installed monitoring solution includes:

  • Temperature sensors embedded within the concrete structure
  • Ambient temperature sensors
  • LVDT displacement sensors for support movement monitoring
  • Embedded strain gauges
  • High-sensitivity accelerometers
  • Distributed Gantner data acquisition platform
  • Remote monitoring and data analysis software

The distributed architecture enables synchronized measurements of both static and dynamic structural behaviour, allowing engineers to assess the bridge's performance under operational railway traffic and changing environmental conditions.


Data Acquisition (DAQ) solution based on Gantner Instruments

DAQ system include the following items :

  • Form Factor : DIN Rail Mounting
  • Controller : Q.station 101 (Ethernet interface for configuration & data output)
  • Modules Q.bloxx A105 (input channels for RTD , Pt100 measurements)
  • Modules Q.bloxx A108 (input channels for LVDT, 4-20mA sensors)
  • Modules Q.bloxx A111 BNC (input channel for IEPE vibration sensors)
  • Modules Q.bloxx A116 (input channel for Strain gages sensors 350 Ohm)


Additional Information

Further technical details about this project are available in the following LinkedIn article published by PerfectDecibel: Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of the Xarrama Railway Bridge in Évora, Portugal

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/structural-health-monitoring-shm-xarrama-railway-bridge-carlos-gomes/