During my time as a PhD student at Monash University, I had the privilege of contributing to several exciting projects as a Research Assistant, particularly in the fields of soil moisture remote sensing and bridge monitoring. The soil moisture measurement project was led by Prof. Jeff Walker, where we explored soil moisture levels using remote sensing technologies. Additionally, I worked with Prof. Colin Caprani on infrastructure health monitoring, focusing on real-time monitoring of bridges to assess structural integrity and performance under superload conditions.
Field Monitoring of Bridge Dynamic Response (Feb 2023 – Mar 2023)
I assisted monitoring real-time strain gauge data on six bridges under super load traffic using SenScope and validated sensor outputs with a string potentiometer and non-contact laser. The project involved tracking the condition of bridges in Melbourne as trucks carrying super-heavy loads, specifically wind turbine blades, passed over them. Our job was to ensure the bridges’ structural integrity under these extreme loads by closely monitoring the data and assessing how the bridges responded to the applied heavy load.
Here are some fun moments:
bridge monitored
SenScope
Farmland Assessment in NSW (Nov 2022 – Dec 2022)
I conducted soil sampling for moisture, vegetation, and surface roughness on a 3 km x 3 km farmland, and surveyed the area using airborne radiometer and radar sensing technologies. My role involved using handheld probes and sampling instruments to collect soil moisture data from the farmland. These measurements served as ground-truth data to validate the results obtained from the airborne radar.
The experiment spanned four weeks in challenging environmental conditions, but the experience was incredibly rewarding. It strengthened my resilience and deepened my understanding of how ground-based measurements validates advanced remote sensing technologies.
Truck running in flood
Sunrise at Yanco 5:00 am
Group photo