Structural health monitoring of heritage sites: The tower of David in Jerusalem

A Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system installed on the Tower of David in Jerusalem's Old City has successfully identified seven fundamental modes of vibration, ranging from 3 Hz to 9 Hz. This breakthrough enables precise assessment of structural response to static, dynamic, and seismic loads, facilitating early detection and classification of damage severity. The system not only helps mitigate collapse risks but also guides strengthening interventions to enhance the structure's resilience. By extracting modal parameters—natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping coefficients—the research provides critical insights for preserving this UNESCO World Heritage Site while ensuring its structural integrity under environmental stresses.

Lorenzoni, F., Modena, C., Caldon, M., Cohen, M., Kislev, R., & Schaffer, Y. (2016). Structural health monitoring of heritage sites: The tower of David in Jerusalem. Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions: Anamnesis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Controls, 745–751. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315616995-100