Augmented Reality-Based Real-Time Visualization for Structural Modal Identification

In the era of aging civil infrastructure and growing concerns about rapid structural deterioration due to climate change, the demand for real-time structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques has been predominant worldwide. Traditional SHM methods face challenges, including delays in processing acquired data from large structures, time-intensive dense instrumentation, and visualization of real-time structural information. To address these issues, this paper develops a novel real-time visualization method using Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance vibration-based onsite structural inspections. The proposed approach presents a visualization system designed for real-time fieldwork, enabling detailed multi-sensor analyses within the immersive environment of AR. Leveraging the remote connectivity of the AR device, real-time communication is established with an external database and Python library through a web server, expanding the analytical capabilities of data acquisition, and data processing, such as modal identification, and the resulting visualization of SHM information. The proposed system allows live visualization of time-domain, frequency-domain, and system identification information through AR. This paper provides an overview of the proposed technology and presents the results of a lab-scale experimental model. It is concluded that the proposed approach yields accurate processing of real-time data and visualization of system identification information by highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency and safety in SHM by integrating AR technology with real-world fieldwork.