Abstract
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an all-embracing process of implementing a damage detection and
characterization strategy for critical infrastructures. Its data acquisition portion relies on a multi-disciplinary approach
that combines a variety of sensing technologies to capture, log and analyze data of various types. Engineering surveying
science and practice is a key element in SHM that contributes to the detailed characterization of structures’ geometry in
space and time. Optical and digital imagery systems and methods form an integral part of surveying techniques, and
therefore, their evolution has a profound effect in SHM applications. This paper attempts a summary classification and a
critical discussion of conventional and emerging engineering surveying techniques related to optical systems for SHM.
More specifically, optical sensors are categorized and cross-compared using various criteria, such as their principle of
operation, their accuracy characteristics, their limitations due to atmospheric and other effects and their potential to
monitor low or high dynamic phenomena. Also, practical issues of interest are examined including their ability to
provide simultaneously measurements at a single- /multi-point locations and their capacity to operate remotely and /or
integrated within a sensors network. Finally, examples and summary results from various sources are included to further
enhance discussion.
