Predictive Maintenance in Schools: A New Safety Culture with the SHBox System
Predictive maintenance is now a crucial tool for ensuring the safety and longevity of infrastructure, especially in contexts where action is often only taken after issues or emergencies arise.
In this article, we will discuss a specific monitoring case carried out with our innovative SHBox system in a school building located in the outskirts of Turin. This intervention enabled the assessment of the building’s structural health and ultimately led the local government to construct a new school building.
Installation of the SHBox System
After receiving a monitoring request for the school infrastructure from the local municipality, and following an initial inspection by our team led by a structural engineer, we developed a monitoring plan that addressed the complexities and challenges of the building.
The installation of the SHBox system, patented by Sysdev, involved placing around twenty multi-sensor nodes at strategic locations throughout the building: from the foundation to the load-bearing walls, with special attention given to the basement where the school cafeteria was located, as well as the two upper floors.
The monitoring process continued for about three years, during which the SHBox system continuously collected data related to key infrastructure parameters such as vibrations, oscillations, temperature changes, and structural displacements. The data, transmitted via the LoRa network to Sysdev’s cloud platform, were then processed to identify any critical issues.
Predictive Monitoring of the Structure
Although no significant issues occurred during the monitoring period, the system did highlight a few notable anomalies. Specifically, during a period when heavy furniture was moved inside the school, the sensors recorded notable expansion of the supporting beams, which later returned to normal parameters.
This type of analysis emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring not only to detect immediate problems but also to identify early warning signs of potential future risks.
As a result of this monitoring experience, the local government decided to proceed with the design and construction of a new school adjacent to the monitored building. This decision was driven by the need to ensure an even safer environment for the students.
The Benefits of the SHBox System for Infrastructure
Thanks to the advanced technology of our SHBox system, it is possible to:
- Monitor in real-time the key parameters that ensure the stability of an infrastructure.
- Prevent structural risks by promptly identifying anomalies.
- Support future intervention planning to improve safety.
The case presented in this article is a tangible example of how technology and a culture of predictability can have a significant impact.
This intervention is, in fact, a virtuous example in a landscape where, unfortunately, predictive maintenance is still undervalued by many businesses and institutions. Too often, it is preferred to act only after emergencies occur, with much higher costs and risks.
If you also want to ensure the safety of your architectural works and adopt predictive monitoring solutions, contact our team of professionals for a personalized consultation.