so imagine you’re a train driver on the main rail line between Dublin and
main rail line between Dublin and
main rail line between Dublin and Belfast in Ireland it’s 625 p.m. on a
Belfast in Ireland it’s 625 p.m. on a
Belfast in Ireland it’s 625 p.m. on a Friday evening and the trains before and
Friday evening and the trains before and
Friday evening and the trains before and after you are full commuter trains heavy
after you are full commuter trains heavy
after you are full commuter trains heavy with passengers as you drive over
with passengers as you drive over
with passengers as you drive over malahide viaduct a bridge that takes you
malahide viaduct a bridge that takes you
malahide viaduct a bridge that takes you over a big estuary you notice the water
over a big estuary you notice the water
over a big estuary you notice the water splashing a little bit higher than usual
splashing a little bit higher than usual
splashing a little bit higher than usual you look out the window and your stomach
you look out the window and your stomach
you look out the window and your stomach drops
drops
drops you notice part of the bridge you’re
you notice part of the bridge you’re
you notice part of the bridge you’re driving over crumbling into the waters
driving over crumbling into the waters
driving over crumbling into the waters below
below
below there’s only track holding up you and
there’s only track holding up you and
there’s only track holding up you and the other passengers from falling into
the other passengers from falling into
the other passengers from falling into those waters this actually happened on
those waters this actually happened on
those waters this actually happened on August 2009 the fourth pair of malahide
August 2009 the fourth pair of malahide
August 2009 the fourth pair of malahide rail viaduct collapsed into Broadway
rail viaduct collapsed into Broadway
rail viaduct collapsed into Broadway meadow estuary luckily in this instance
meadow estuary luckily in this instance
meadow estuary luckily in this instance the driver managed to coast the train
the driver managed to coast the train
the driver managed to coast the train safely over the bridge and called it in
safely over the bridge and called it in
safely over the bridge and called it in Holts the passing of any further trains
Holts the passing of any further trains
Holts the passing of any further trains but this was very nearly a much larger
but this was very nearly a much larger
but this was very nearly a much larger tragedy with human life at risk now the
tragedy with human life at risk now the
tragedy with human life at risk now the cause of this particular failure was
cause of this particular failure was
cause of this particular failure was judas scour scour is where the ground
judas scour scour is where the ground
judas scour scour is where the ground material in a river or estuary is worn
material in a river or estuary is worn
material in a river or estuary is worn away a kind of erosion that forms a hole
away a kind of erosion that forms a hole
away a kind of erosion that forms a hole around the foundations of a bridge so
around the foundations of a bridge so
around the foundations of a bridge so when it’s no longer supported it’s at
when it’s no longer supported it’s at
when it’s no longer supported it’s at risk of collapsing what’s scary is that
risk of collapsing what’s scary is that
risk of collapsing what’s scary is that this isn’t an isolated incident you can
this isn’t an isolated incident you can
this isn’t an isolated incident you can see that there are actually many more
see that there are actually many more
see that there are actually many more cases of this in the UK periods of heavy
cases of this in the UK periods of heavy
cases of this in the UK periods of heavy flooding in the last few years have
flooding in the last few years have
flooding in the last few years have caused collapses in Scotland Cumbria the
caused collapses in Scotland Cumbria the
caused collapses in Scotland Cumbria the south of London and the South of England
south of London and the South of England
south of London and the South of England there was even just a bridge collapse
there was even just a bridge collapse
there was even just a bridge collapse last month it’s actually kind of
last month it’s actually kind of
last month it’s actually kind of terrifying how many things fall down
terrifying how many things fall down
terrifying how many things fall down around us take this example in August
around us take this example in August
around us take this example in August 2007 the i-35w Mississippi River Bridge
2007 the i-35w Mississippi River Bridge
2007 the i-35w Mississippi River Bridge collapsed it killed 13 people and
collapsed it killed 13 people and
collapsed it killed 13 people and injured a further 145 so after the
injured a further 145 so after the
injured a further 145 so after the collapse a forensic investigation was
collapse a forensic investigation was
collapse a forensic investigation was undertaken and yes by forensic invest
undertaken and yes by forensic invest
undertaken and yes by forensic invest I mean in a similar way you think of a
I mean in a similar way you think of a
I mean in a similar way you think of a crime scene where you carry out forensic
crime scene where you carry out forensic
crime scene where you carry out forensic investigation to figure out what
investigation to figure out what
investigation to figure out what happened engineers we also carry out a
happened engineers we also carry out a
happened engineers we also carry out a forensic engineering activity to try and
forensic engineering activity to try and
forensic engineering activity to try and figure out why major structural collapse
figure out why major structural collapse
figure out why major structural collapse has happened it’s a little bit like CSI
has happened it’s a little bit like CSI
has happened it’s a little bit like CSI for bridges only no one’s asked me to
for bridges only no one’s asked me to
for bridges only no one’s asked me to start a hit new TV show yet back to my
start a hit new TV show yet back to my
start a hit new TV show yet back to my story um so this particular bridge
story um so this particular bridge
story um so this particular bridge failed because certain plates these
failed because certain plates these
failed because certain plates these plates started to bow out and then one
plates started to bow out and then one
plates started to bow out and then one day they suddenly collapsed taking the
day they suddenly collapsed taking the
day they suddenly collapsed taking the whole bridge down with it the scary
whole bridge down with it the scary
whole bridge down with it the scary thing about this is that looking at
thing about this is that looking at
thing about this is that looking at photos taken during an inspection four
photos taken during an inspection four
photos taken during an inspection four years before this collapse revealed that
years before this collapse revealed that
years before this collapse revealed that you could see the bowing of this plate
you could see the bowing of this plate
you could see the bowing of this plate now it was only a few millimeters but
now it was only a few millimeters but
now it was only a few millimeters but the scary thing was it was there we just
the scary thing was it was there we just
the scary thing was it was there we just missed it by eye so if you think how did
missed it by eye so if you think how did
missed it by eye so if you think how did we miss that well actually most
we miss that well actually most
we miss that well actually most countries carry out inspections by a
countries carry out inspections by a
countries carry out inspections by a period of standard annual or – yearly or
period of standard annual or – yearly or
period of standard annual or – yearly or sometimes six yearly visual inspections
sometimes six yearly visual inspections
sometimes six yearly visual inspections so someone like me I’ll come along with
so someone like me I’ll come along with
so someone like me I’ll come along with some drawings and we’ll look at the
some drawings and we’ll look at the
some drawings and we’ll look at the bridge and we’ll mark up the defects we
bridge and we’ll mark up the defects we
bridge and we’ll mark up the defects we can see take a few photos that kind of
can see take a few photos that kind of
can see take a few photos that kind of thing but it inherently relies on
thing but it inherently relies on
thing but it inherently relies on someone being able to spot signs of
someone being able to spot signs of
someone being able to spot signs of distress or unusual behaviors before
distress or unusual behaviors before
distress or unusual behaviors before they reach this kind of catastrophic
they reach this kind of catastrophic
they reach this kind of catastrophic stage so is there something else we can
stage so is there something else we can
stage so is there something else we can do
do
do is there something where we could
is there something where we could
is there something where we could remotely munde our bridges something to
remotely munde our bridges something to
remotely munde our bridges something to give us a little bit of a hand could we
give us a little bit of a hand could we
give us a little bit of a hand could we say use our eyes in the sky to help us
say use our eyes in the sky to help us
say use our eyes in the sky to help us out another issue with our visual
out another issue with our visual
out another issue with our visual inspections is that things happen
inspections is that things happen
inspections is that things happen between these visual inspections things
between these visual inspections things
between these visual inspections things like this are strong weather effects
like this are strong weather effects
like this are strong weather effects we’re seeing the effects of climate
we’re seeing the effects of climate
we’re seeing the effects of climate change quite strongly periods of heavy
change quite strongly periods of heavy
change quite strongly periods of heavy rain and heavy snow ice and storms
rain and heavy snow ice and storms
rain and heavy snow ice and storms temperature affects both hotter and
temperature affects both hotter and
temperature affects both hotter and colder that we’ve never seen before to
colder that we’ve never seen before to
colder that we’ve never seen before to put it simply our structures are seeing
put it simply our structures are seeing
put it simply our structures are seeing a whole bunch of environmental
a whole bunch of environmental
a whole bunch of environmental conditions they weren’t actually
conditions they weren’t actually
conditions they weren’t actually designed to experience so if you think
designed to experience so if you think
designed to experience so if you think about the snow and ice for ice we throw
about the snow and ice for ice we throw
about the snow and ice for ice we throw around salts on the road to melt it so
around salts on the road to melt it so
around salts on the road to melt it so that we can drive and walk safely but
that we can drive and walk safely but
that we can drive and walk safely but salts actually accelerate the process of
salts actually accelerate the process of
salts actually accelerate the process of corrosion
corrosion
corrosion so we’re actually deteriorating our
so we’re actually deteriorating our
so we’re actually deteriorating our bridges are reinforcing in our steel
bridges are reinforcing in our steel
bridges are reinforcing in our steel work at a faster rate if we think back
work at a faster rate if we think back
work at a faster rate if we think back to our example of our failure more
to our example of our failure more
to our example of our failure more floods and faster flows means that we’re
floods and faster flows means that we’re
floods and faster flows means that we’re accelerating this process of scour and
accelerating this process of scour and
accelerating this process of scour and how do we monitor for scour well we
how do we monitor for scour well we
how do we monitor for scour well we actually send the diver there so that
actually send the diver there so that
actually send the diver there so that someone can go see firsthand exactly
someone can go see firsthand exactly
someone can go see firsthand exactly what’s happening but even this has
what’s happening but even this has
what’s happening but even this has limitations you can’t send a diver
limitations you can’t send a diver
limitations you can’t send a diver during a flood event itself for danger
during a flood event itself for danger
during a flood event itself for danger of the diver and lack of visibility even
of the diver and lack of visibility even
of the diver and lack of visibility even when the waters are lower the diver is
when the waters are lower the diver is
when the waters are lower the diver is at risk because well you’re sending
at risk because well you’re sending
at risk because well you’re sending someone down to a structure that could
someone down to a structure that could
someone down to a structure that could potentially collapse on them and then
potentially collapse on them and then
potentially collapse on them and then finally even if everything is fine and
finally even if everything is fine and
finally even if everything is fine and you send a camera down to look if
you send a camera down to look if
you send a camera down to look if there’s a little bit of material that’s
there’s a little bit of material that’s
there’s a little bit of material that’s loose that covers that hole you may not
loose that covers that hole you may not
loose that covers that hole you may not even see that there’s a difference so
even see that there’s a difference so
even see that there’s a difference so again we need a remote way of doing this
again we need a remote way of doing this
again we need a remote way of doing this we need something that can detect tiny
we need something that can detect tiny
we need something that can detect tiny millimeter levels of movement that our
millimeter levels of movement that our
millimeter levels of movement that our eyes miss and lucky for us we have some
eyes miss and lucky for us we have some
eyes miss and lucky for us we have some friends we have satellites so I’m a
friends we have satellites so I’m a
friends we have satellites so I’m a civil engineer I work in the design
civil engineer I work in the design
civil engineer I work in the design building maintenance and construction of
building maintenance and construction of
building maintenance and construction of bridges and rail lines and schools and
bridges and rail lines and schools and
bridges and rail lines and schools and hospitals and water treatment and energy
hospitals and water treatment and energy
hospitals and water treatment and energy sources the things that are all around
sources the things that are all around
sources the things that are all around us that you take for granted but I’m
us that you take for granted but I’m
us that you take for granted but I’m also really passionate about keeping our
also really passionate about keeping our
also really passionate about keeping our cities safe and keeping them healthy
cities safe and keeping them healthy
cities safe and keeping them healthy enough to be able to stand withstand
enough to be able to stand withstand
enough to be able to stand withstand these kinds of these climate changes so
these kinds of these climate changes so
these kinds of these climate changes so now I’m working in the space sector I
now I’m working in the space sector I
now I’m working in the space sector I work with organizations like the German
work with organizations like the German
work with organizations like the German Aerospace Center and the satellite
Aerospace Center and the satellite
Aerospace Center and the satellite applications catapult to use satellites
applications catapult to use satellites
applications catapult to use satellites to try and help us prevent some of these
to try and help us prevent some of these
to try and help us prevent some of these catastrophic failures so I specifically
catastrophic failures so I specifically
catastrophic failures so I specifically use a technique called radar
use a technique called radar
use a technique called radar interferometry this is where satellites
interferometry this is where satellites
interferometry this is where satellites like these ones pass over the earth
like these ones pass over the earth
like these ones pass over the earth they send pulses of electromagnetic
they send pulses of electromagnetic
they send pulses of electromagnetic radiation which hit the surface and are
radiation which hit the surface and are
radiation which hit the surface and are reflected back up to the satellite
reflected back up to the satellite
reflected back up to the satellite giving a bit of information so every
giving a bit of information so every
giving a bit of information so every time one of these satellites passes say
time one of these satellites passes say
time one of these satellites passes say over this building it sends a signal
over this building it sends a signal
over this building it sends a signal which is sent down bounces back and sent
which is sent down bounces back and sent
which is sent down bounces back and sent back up again the next time it comes
back up again the next time it comes
back up again the next time it comes back it does that again and this time it
back it does that again and this time it
back it does that again and this time it takes for the signal to fly down and
takes for the signal to fly down and
takes for the signal to fly down and then come
then come
then come tells us a little bit about how much
tells us a little bit about how much
tells us a little bit about how much that’s moved since the previous image so
that’s moved since the previous image so
that’s moved since the previous image so how do we use that practically well
how do we use that practically well
how do we use that practically well historically it’s been used in
historically it’s been used in
historically it’s been used in large-scale deformations
large-scale deformations
large-scale deformations such as volcanoes or earthquakes but
such as volcanoes or earthquakes but
such as volcanoes or earthquakes but what’s really exciting is that the
what’s really exciting is that the
what’s really exciting is that the resolution is finally small enough that
resolution is finally small enough that
resolution is finally small enough that we can do things at a city scale or
we can do things at a city scale or
we can do things at a city scale or maybe even a single building or bridge
maybe even a single building or bridge
maybe even a single building or bridge scale so might be easier if we just look
scale so might be easier if we just look
scale so might be easier if we just look at a simple example this is a piece of
at a simple example this is a piece of
at a simple example this is a piece of work done with telus passio which is
work done with telus passio which is
work done with telus passio which is looking at London so the river you can
looking at London so the river you can
looking at London so the river you can see is the Thames and this is the area
see is the Thames and this is the area
see is the Thames and this is the area just north of these little dots
just north of these little dots
just north of these little dots represents a reflection point
represents a reflection point
represents a reflection point now these reflection points are tracked
now these reflection points are tracked
now these reflection points are tracked over time and so these are now been
over time and so these are now been
over time and so these are now been color-coded to show movement as
color-coded to show movement as
color-coded to show movement as millimeters per year over over time the
millimeters per year over over time the
millimeters per year over over time the red dots represent things that are
red dots represent things that are
red dots represent things that are sinking green is stable and if there was
sinking green is stable and if there was
sinking green is stable and if there was blue it would be uplift so you can see
blue it would be uplift so you can see
blue it would be uplift so you can see that an area just north the o2 is
that an area just north the o2 is
that an area just north the o2 is rapidly sinking now it looks a little
rapidly sinking now it looks a little
rapidly sinking now it looks a little bit alarming but scale is everything
bit alarming but scale is everything
bit alarming but scale is everything here the red dots show movement that’s
here the red dots show movement that’s
here the red dots show movement that’s no larger than the size of this penny
no larger than the size of this penny
no larger than the size of this penny really tiny um so then you say well why
really tiny um so then you say well why
really tiny um so then you say well why do we care if you think about say taking
do we care if you think about say taking
do we care if you think about say taking off the size of a penny off one of the
off the size of a penny off one of the
off the size of a penny off one of the chairs of your leg you’ll notice the
chairs of your leg you’ll notice the
chairs of your leg you’ll notice the difference similarly if we have part of
difference similarly if we have part of
difference similarly if we have part of our buildings sinking it’s not the same
our buildings sinking it’s not the same
our buildings sinking it’s not the same effect but there might be a problem and
effect but there might be a problem and
effect but there might be a problem and it’s something that we need to be aware
it’s something that we need to be aware
it’s something that we need to be aware of in this particular case what happened
of in this particular case what happened
of in this particular case what happened here was the construction of a new rail
here was the construction of a new rail
here was the construction of a new rail line underground tunneling where they
line underground tunneling where they
line underground tunneling where they dug and put in a shaft to install that
dug and put in a shaft to install that
dug and put in a shaft to install that shaft they needed to D Ward remove the
shaft they needed to D Ward remove the
shaft they needed to D Ward remove the water from that area when they remove
water from that area when they remove
water from that area when they remove the water the whole area sunk and when
the water the whole area sunk and when
the water the whole area sunk and when they returned the water this actually
they returned the water this actually
they returned the water this actually rose back up again so then how does this
rose back up again so then how does this
rose back up again so then how does this apply for our bridges well if we can
apply for our bridges well if we can
apply for our bridges well if we can start monitoring certain points along a
start monitoring certain points along a
start monitoring certain points along a bridge using our radar then we might be
bridge using our radar then we might be
bridge using our radar then we might be able to tell a little bit when it’s not
able to tell a little bit when it’s not
able to tell a little bit when it’s not doing what we’re expecting if we combine
doing what we’re expecting if we combine
doing what we’re expecting if we combine structural knowledge to to plan how it
structural knowledge to to plan how it
structural knowledge to to plan how it should behave can we spot things that
should behave can we spot things that
should behave can we spot things that that are a little bit off I don’t know
that are a little bit off I don’t know
that are a little bit off I don’t know if you know this but bridges aren’t
if you know this but bridges aren’t
if you know this but bridges aren’t actually
actually
actually designed to stay still they’re actually
designed to stay still they’re actually
designed to stay still they’re actually designed to expand and contract they
designed to expand and contract they
designed to expand and contract they have expansion joints and they have
have expansion joints and they have
have expansion joints and they have components called bearings so if a
components called bearings so if a
components called bearings so if a bridge can’t move and expand and
bridge can’t move and expand and
bridge can’t move and expand and contract then stress is built up and we
contract then stress is built up and we
contract then stress is built up and we have problems so that’s just one way to
have problems so that’s just one way to
have problems so that’s just one way to look at it another way is our example
look at it another way is our example
look at it another way is our example right from the beginning scoured failure
right from the beginning scoured failure
right from the beginning scoured failure can we see these tiny movements before
can we see these tiny movements before
can we see these tiny movements before they cause a problem so here’s just one
they cause a problem so here’s just one
they cause a problem so here’s just one example from my work and where here’s a
example from my work and where here’s a
example from my work and where here’s a bridge that that we monitored various
bridge that that we monitored various
bridge that that we monitored various different points along the length of the
different points along the length of the
different points along the length of the bridge now in the next slide we’re going
bridge now in the next slide we’re going
bridge now in the next slide we’re going to consider it at that point in the
to consider it at that point in the
to consider it at that point in the middle of the bridge we monitored this
middle of the bridge we monitored this
middle of the bridge we monitored this over time so you can see tiny tiny
over time so you can see tiny tiny
over time so you can see tiny tiny movements over time a couple years
movements over time a couple years
movements over time a couple years before a certain event in the first year
before a certain event in the first year
before a certain event in the first year in 2014 the bridge moved around a little
in 2014 the bridge moved around a little
in 2014 the bridge moved around a little fairly steady then in 2015 it still
fairly steady then in 2015 it still
fairly steady then in 2015 it still moves around fairly steadily but towards
moves around fairly steadily but towards
moves around fairly steadily but towards the end of 2015 was a period of heavy
the end of 2015 was a period of heavy
the end of 2015 was a period of heavy flooding in the north of England and we
flooding in the north of England and we
flooding in the north of England and we noticed this in November slightly away
noticed this in November slightly away
noticed this in November slightly away from the rest of its friends then again
from the rest of its friends then again
from the rest of its friends then again a little further away and we carry on
a little further away and we carry on
a little further away and we carry on and we carry on and then when we get to
and we carry on and then when we get to
and we carry on and then when we get to December and what happens in December
December and what happens in December
December and what happens in December well that happened in December the
well that happened in December the
well that happened in December the bridge partially collapsed after a
bridge partially collapsed after a
bridge partially collapsed after a period of severe flooding now this is
period of severe flooding now this is
period of severe flooding now this is just one example and there’s still
just one example and there’s still
just one example and there’s still plenty of work to be done to develop
plenty of work to be done to develop
plenty of work to be done to develop this to proper scientific rigor but it’s
this to proper scientific rigor but it’s
this to proper scientific rigor but it’s a really exciting example of what we
a really exciting example of what we
a really exciting example of what we could possibly do with this kind of
could possibly do with this kind of
could possibly do with this kind of technology we’re currently limited by
technology we’re currently limited by
technology we’re currently limited by access to data the resolution the number
access to data the resolution the number
access to data the resolution the number of images were able to get at a given
of images were able to get at a given
of images were able to get at a given time but the space sector is rapidly
time but the space sector is rapidly
time but the space sector is rapidly advancing I’m really excited about
advancing I’m really excited about
advancing I’m really excited about working in this field because we have
working in this field because we have
working in this field because we have not yet even started to scratch the
not yet even started to scratch the
not yet even started to scratch the surface with where these opportunities
surface with where these opportunities
surface with where these opportunities could go there’s no nursery rhyme you
could go there’s no nursery rhyme you
could go there’s no nursery rhyme you may know it London Bridge is falling
may know it London Bridge is falling
may know it London Bridge is falling down well London Bridge is certainly not
down well London Bridge is certainly not
down well London Bridge is certainly not falling down but it sure would be nice
falling down but it sure would be nice
falling down but it sure would be nice to have a pair of eyes in the sky just
to have a pair of eyes in the sky just
to have a pair of eyes in the sky just to check that it wasn’t right thank you
to check that it wasn’t right thank you
to check that it wasn’t right thank you [Applause]
”
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