Monitoring of earthquake induced motions and damage with optical motion tracking

Optical motion tracking technologies using surveillance cameras have been applied to the measurement of earthquake induced motions and detection of seismic damage to interior elements to reduce risks in a building. We have developed methods for detecting structural collapse and overturning of interior elements. Shaking table tests were carried out to evaluate the optical system's ability to detect damage. The movements of two-storey frame structures and rectangular pieces of wood on the shaking table were monitored using conventional video cameras. Results from this exploratory study showed that optical measurements are promising in terms of capturing small to large deformations and identifying various types of seismic damage.