Vibration monitoring for structures and plant

Permanent vibration monitoring that tracks structural health over years. Trends and natural frequency instead of a snapshot, with automatic alerting on deviation.

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Measuring point on the structure Continuous operation
  • Measured quantities Peak particle velocity, natural frequency, acceleration
  • Assessment Trend instead of single value
  • Normal range from the learned history
  • Alerting automatic on deviation
  • Operation monitoring as a service

Permanent instead of temporary

Vibration monitoring or construction vibration monitoring?

Both measure vibration. Construction vibration monitoring accompanies a single construction phase, vibration monitoring observes a structure or plant item over years and makes gradual changes visible.

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Vibration monitoring

Permanent & long-term

  • Monitoring over years instead of weeks
  • Focus on structural health and trends
  • Detects gradual changes in structures and plant
  • For existing structures, bridges, plant and machinery
Related solution

Construction vibration monitoring

Site-accompanying & temporary

  • Tied to a specific construction phase
  • Focus on short-term vibration to DIN 4150-3
  • Threshold monitoring with instant alerting
  • Evidence for clients, neighbours and authorities
To construction vibration monitoring

Why monitor permanently

What permanent vibration monitoring delivers

Vibration reveals the condition of a structure or plant item. Observing it continuously shows changes long before they become visible or critical.

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Detect damage early

A shift in natural frequency or rising amplitudes point to changes within the structure, often before a crack becomes visible.

Condition-based maintenance

Maintenance follows the actual condition instead of a fixed interval. This saves cost and avoids unnecessary interventions.

Extend service life

A documented condition history allows the remaining service life of structures to be assessed soundly and replacement investments to be planned.

Keep plant available

Bearing damage and imbalance in machinery and technical plant announce themselves in the vibration signature. Unplanned downtime can be avoided.

Document the history

All readings come together as an unbroken time series, available as an objective basis for operators, inspectors and expert assessors.

Alert on trend deviation

Instead of individual peaks, the system monitors the trend. If it departs from the learned normal range, an alert is triggered automatically.

Long-term trend

It is not the single value that counts, but the trend

The dashboard tracks one measured quantity over a year. As long as the trend stays within the learned normal range, all is calm. Simulate a gradual change in condition and see how the trend reaches the threshold and the system raises an alert.

Trend within normal range
Natural frequency Current 4.20 Hz

Trend deviation detected

Alert sent to operator

Demonstration only

Measured quantities

What vibration monitoring captures

Several measured quantities together form a robust picture of the condition of a structure or plant item over time.

Peak particle velocity

The central quantity in mm/s, captured continuously and tracked against the learned normal range.

Natural frequency

If a structure’s natural frequency shifts over time, this is a sensitive indicator of structural change.

Acceleration

The 3-axis MEMS sensor captures acceleration in every spatial direction, mapping the full vibration behaviour.

Trend & amplitude

It is not the single value that counts, but its development. Slow drift and growing amplitudes are made visible.

All of this is measured with the vibration sensor SHAKEdot: three-axis, autonomous for up to six months and without cabling on the component.

Vibration sensor on a steel column at a construction site

Standards reference

Assessed against recognised standards

Different sets of rules apply depending on the protection goal. We assign the readings to the relevant reference.

DIN 4150-3

Effects on structures

For structural vibration. Continuous vibration is subject to its own, stricter limits than short-term events.

ISO 2631-2

Effects on people

Assesses the perception and acceptability of vibration for people in buildings.

ISO 20816

Machinery & plant

For assessing machine vibration, for example on rotating plant and its foundations.

One point of contact

One point of contact for the entire monitoring programme

You receive vibration monitoring as a complete solution, from the initial concept through to ongoing operation as monitoring as a service.

01

Concept

We define measured quantities, measuring points and the standard-based assessment framework, tailored to the structure or plant item.

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02

Installation

The wireless sensors are fitted without running cables and commissioned with a documented baseline measurement.

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03

Maintenance and operation

As monitoring as a service, we operate the data platform, keep the sensors available and evaluate the data continuously.

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04

Monitoring and alerting

Continuous trend monitoring with automatic alerting on any deviation from the learned normal range.

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Applications

Where permanent vibration monitoring makes sense

Wherever the condition of a structure or plant item must be reliably known over a long period.

Vibration monitoring for your structure

Tell us which structure or plant item you want to monitor long-term. We design the right measuring chain and get back to you with a no-obligation quote.

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Benedikt Seuss Benedikt Seuss

Data platform

All readings on one platform

The sensors transmit their readings wirelessly to the data platform, where they are evaluated, documented and continuously checked against your thresholds.

  • AI-assisted data analysis
  • User-focused reporting
  • Continuous evaluation
  • Warning and alarm thresholds
  • Alerts by email and text message
  • Remote access around the clock
More on monitoring & alerting
Monitoring platform Sample view
Reading history within limits
Warning threshold
  • AI-assisted data analysis Condition within limits
  • User-focused reporting Report ready
  • Alerting Thresholds monitored
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about vibration monitoring

What is the difference between vibration monitoring and construction vibration monitoring?
Construction vibration monitoring is usually a site-accompanying, time-limited monitoring effort that checks the guide values of DIN 4150-3 during vibration-intensive works. Vibration monitoring is a permanent approach: it monitors a structure or plant item over months and years, tracks trends and makes gradual changes in structural health visible.
How does the system detect structural changes?
A structure has characteristic natural frequencies. If stiffness changes, for example due to cracking or material fatigue, these frequencies shift. The system learns the normal range and continuously monitors trend and amplitude. A departing trend points to a change, often before it is visible to the naked eye.
Which standards are applied?
This depends on the protection goal: DIN 4150-3 assesses effects on structures, with continuous vibration subject to stricter limits than short-term events. ISO 2631-2 covers perception by people in buildings. For machinery and technical plant, ISO 20816 applies. We assign the readings to the relevant reference in each case.
How long does vibration monitoring run?
Unlike site-accompanying construction vibration monitoring, vibration monitoring is designed for permanent use. It accompanies a structure or plant item over the entire relevant service period, often over several years. We take on operation, data platform and evaluation as monitoring as a service, so no extra effort falls to you.
Does permanent operation require power and cabling?
The sensors are wireless and transmit via LTE-M and NB-IoT. For long-term operation on permanently monitored structures, they can be connected to a power supply for maximum availability, but can also run autonomously depending on the application. Either way, there is no need for extensive cable runs.
Can vibration monitoring be retrofitted to existing structures?
Yes. Because the sensors are wireless and compact, they can be fitted to existing structures and operating plant without structural intervention. After a baseline measurement, the normal range is learned, after which the system continuously monitors the further course.

Project inquiry

Vibration monitoring for your structure

Tell us which structure or plant item you want to monitor long-term. We design the right measuring chain and get back to you with a no-obligation quote.

+49 6742 8599600 DE +41 41 670 00 11 CH [email protected]
Project inquiry