Dynamic Monitoring of World’s Tallest Man-made Structure CX1 provides real-world data

Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Dynamic Monitoring of World’s Tallest Man-made Structure
CX1 provides real-world data
Close to Dubai’s main business district, the Burj Khalifa towers over
Downtown Dubai. Previously known as the Burj Dubai, at 2,717 feet (828 meters) tall,
this freestanding skyscraper serves many functions. From a luxury Armani hotel to a
million-dollar residential apartment complex and exclusive corporate suites, Burj Khalifa encompasses around five million square feet, and is the tallest freestanding, manmade structure in the world. Almost everything about Burj Khalifa is record breaking.
From the world’s fastest and highest elevator at almost 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers
per hour) to the world’s highest swimming pool on the 76th floor, this skyscraper is the
first of its size to include residential living space.
The challenge:
With so many superlatives, the building required advanced construction techniques
as well as the subject of detailed study. Computer modelling was used to predict the
structural properties, not just for the finished building, but throughout construction.
However, when utilizing computer modelling - especially for one-of-a-kind structures
like the Burj Khalifa, computer models require real-world data comparisons. In turn,
Team Members:
• Emaar Properties (Owner)
• Samsung C&T (Contractor)
• CPP Wind Engineering (System
Architect and Engineer)
• SENSR (Instrumentation)
“Integrating the CX1 with our
LabVIEW code running on compact
and reliable Mac Minis was easier
than I could have ever hoped.
The API has run flawlessly on our
chosen platform and SENSR’s
customization of it delivered exactly
the data stream we required in an
easily-ingested format. ”
690 East Bridge Street, P.O. Box 158 • Elkader, IA 52043 USA
Tel: 563.245.3750 • www.sensr.com
Tom Lawton, Systems Engineer at CPP
“The CX1 is a remarkable solution; it costs less than traditional solutions as well as does more and with fewer
additional external components. Had we used the CX1 units alone, we could have simply screwed
the systems to the wall, plugged them into PoE ports and started taking data. With accelerometers installed
in seven locations, the savings would have been tremendous. As an integrated and rugged device,
it is inherently easier to deploy, more stable and more reliable than using individual components.
Since it’s also cheaper and has more features, I can’t think why I’d select anything else in future!”
Tom Lawton, Systems Engineer at CPP
CPP chose the SENSR CX1 accelerometer as the ideal tool for
the job, deployed alongside traditional servo accelerometers and
their associated data acquisition equipment.
The solution:
By providing the CX1 system, a versatile, all-in-one sensor for
monitoring many conditions, the easy-of-use and fast connection allowed for quick tests and investigations. According
to Tom Lawton, Systems Engineer at CPP, the CX1 was the
perfect choice for monitoring and providing real-world data.
According to Lawton, to match existing systems, they had to
install traditional accelerometers and DAQ, requiring eight separate
components and their cable management, mounted in tight space.
With three accelerometer locations in the basement of the structure
and four locations in the tower measuring the building’s response,
the CX1 measures any seismic inputs to the building. The CX1
jointly holds the honor of being the world’s “tallest” accelerometer
plugged into the world’s tallest ethernet port, mounted under the
floor of the tiny observation deck at the very top of Burj Khalifa’s
slender pinnacle.
The result:
CX1 system
According to CPP Wind Vice
President, Roy Denoon, Ph.D., the
results show that the CX1 solution
is performing excellently. At the
pinnacle, the numbers agree perfectly with the traditional accelerometer, and performance has been
flawless in extreme conditions. The
CX1 regularly reads temperatures
in excess of 122 degrees Fahrenheit
(50 degrees Celsius) and has remained accurate and reliable. CPP
will continue to monitor Burj Khalifa for the next two years, yielding a valuable dataset of the structure’s every response.
690 East Bridge Street, P.O. Box 158 • Elkader, IA 52043 USA
Tel: 563.245.3750 • www.sensr.com
“As recognized experts in the field of prediction and measurement of the response of buildings and structures to wind
effects, we are always looking for the simplest and most robust solutions to our instrumentation needs. Through our
whole system design process for Burj Khalifa’s BMMS, we have been continually impressed by SENSR’s expertise and
helpfulness, along with the quality of the CX1 network accelerometer.”
Roy Denoon, Ph.D., CPP Wind Vice President