PSI - Issue 78

Antonio Cefalì et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 1350–1357

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implementing corrective measures if deviations exceed thresholds. For landslide-prone areas affecting embankments or cuttings, the Italian Guidelines for landslide monitoring (SNPA, 2021) offer a systematic framework emphasizing understanding landslide types and mechanisms to design effective monitoring systems. Continuous monitoring, integrating data from various sources (in-situ sensors, remote sensing, meteorological data), is essential for effective early warning systems and informing maintenance priorities. Rapid damage assessment immediately after an earthquake is crucial for addressing urgent needs and optimizing resource allocation. Protocols typically involve trained teams and local experts assessing damage, prioritizing affected areas by severity and population impact, and

collecting data using standardized tools, with assessment team safety being paramount. 5. Traditional and innovative instrumentation and related monitoring systems

Geotechnical monitoring has significantly evolved from conventional discrete measurements to integrated, automated, and real-time systems, with both established and cutting-edge instrumentation providing essential data for evaluating road infrastructure behavior. Traditional geotechnical instruments remain fundamental for various applications, offering point measurements that, when combined with a well-designed monitoring plan, provide valuable insights (Alatza et al., 2024). These include piezometers for pore water pressure, inclinometers for lateral deformations (Simeoni et al., 2020), extensometers for linear displacements, settlement gauges for vertical movements, load cells for axial forces, crack gauges and jointmeters for structural integrity, tiltmeters for rotational changes, and surveying instruments for precise displacement tracking. Recent technological advancements have introduced innovative instrumentation and integrated monitoring systems, enabling continuous, automated, and real-time data acquisition. Automated data acquisition networks eliminate manual readings, allowing for high-frequency, continuous monitoring.

Fig. 1. Comparison between lifecycle of a structure and phases of planning and design for a geotechnical monitoring system.