Enhanced Port Vulnerability Assessment Using Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicle-Based Structural Health Monitoring

Christina N. Tsaimou, Stavroula Brouziouti, Panagiotis Sartampakos and Vasiliki K. Tsoukala ()
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Christina N. Tsaimou: Laboratory of Harbour Works, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Heroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Zografou, Greece
Stavroula Brouziouti: Laboratory of Harbour Works, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Heroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Zografou, Greece
Panagiotis Sartampakos: NIREAS Engineering, 1-3 Skra Str., 17673 Athens, Greece
Vasiliki K. Tsoukala: Laboratory of Harbour Works, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5 Heroon Polytechniou Str., 15780 Zografou, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Port vulnerability assessment is inherently linked to the delivery of sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Identifying the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of a port system allows for the minimization of disaster effects and optimization of maintenance, repair, or mitigation actions. The current port vulnerability assessment practices are built upon the examination of a diversity of indicators (parameters), including technical, physical, environmental, and socioeconomic pressures. From an engineering perspective, and given that ports are tangible infrastructure assets, their vulnerability is highly affected by the structural condition of their facilities. Hence, the present research seeks to enhance port vulnerability assessment by introducing structural condition parameters based on Structural Health Monitoring applications. The four fishing and leisure harbors of the Municipality of Thebes, located in central Greece, were used as a case study. Two approaches were considered for the harbors’ vulnerability assessments: (a) enabling and (b) disabling the use of the proposed parameters. In situ inspections were conducted with the employment of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for condition monitoring. UAV data were analyzed to generate geospatial images that allow for the mapping and detecting of defects and failures in port infrastructure. The overall research assists decision-makers in gaining valuable insight into the system’s vulnerabilities and prioritizing their interventions.

Keywords: port vulnerability; fishing and leisure harbors; port vulnerability assessment; port infrastructure; Structural Health Monitoring (SHM); condition monitoring; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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