Smartphone-Based Dynamic Testing of a Rehabilitated Pedestrian Bridge: A Comparative Study with Traditional Accelerometers

Abstract

The structural health monitoring (SHM) of bridges plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and longevity of aging infrastructure. Recent advances in sensor and mobile technologies have enabled low-cost, scalable, and portable alternatives to conventional monitoring systems. This study presents the development and validation of a cloudintegrated methodology for dynamic testing using smartphones, with a focus on modal identification of bridge structures subjected to ambient vibrations. A rehabilitated pedestrian bridge in Zagreb, Croatia served as the case study. Operational modal analysis (OMA) was performed using both conventional piezoelectric accelerometers and embedded MEMS accelerometers within smartphones. Data were collected in parallel and processed using Artemis Modal Pro software. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the two measurement systems, confirming the capability of smartphone-based sensing to accurately capture key dynamic characteristics. The proposed approach offers a viable and accessible alternative for SHM, reducing cost and logistical complexity while maintaining sufficient precision for practical engineering applications. Moreover, the integration of mobile technology with automated data processing workflows opens new possibilities for rapid deployment and broader implementation in infrastructure diagnostics. This work contributes to the growing field of smart monitoring solutions, emphasizing the practicality of smartphone-based systems in both research and real-world engineering contexts.