The structural health monitoring lab at Youngstown State University (YSU)focuses on advanced research to evaluate the integrity and safety of bridges and infrastructure. Using multi-hop wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the lab collects vibration data from bridges to monitor their condition in real time.

In a recent project, two separate networks—each consisting of four wireless sensor nodes—were connected to laptops via dedicated base stations. To simulate real-world stress conditions, heavily loaded trucks were driven over a prestressed box beam (PSBB) bridge at varying speeds, generating vibration data. By analyzing these dynamic responses, the research team successfully assessed the bridge’s condition and estimated its load rating with reliable accuracy.

The SMART Lab is led by Dr. Anwarul Islam, Professor of Civil Engineering in the Rayen School of Engineering at YSU. Since 2020, his team has been developing deep neural network models for predicting the structural health of bridges and other civil infrastructure. Their current focus is on bridges across Ohio, with plans to expand their research nationwide.

Dr. Anwarul Islam earned his BS in Civil Engineering (1992) from BUET, and later completed his MS (2000) and PhD (2005) in Civil Engineering at The Florida State University. His professional experience includes work on major international infrastructure projects, such as the $1 billion Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge in Bangladesh and expressway bridges and buildings for the Public Works Department in Singapore.

Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Islam worked as a Senior Structural Engineer at PBS&J (now Atkins), where he designed bridges, retaining walls, and other structures. He joined YSU as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2005 and has since become a leader in bridge health monitoring using wireless sensor technologies. One of his major research accomplishments includes the development of a software model capable of instantly determining bridge load and condition ratings based on WSN-collected vibration data.

Dr. Islam is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and has received training through the ASCE ExCEEd Teaching Workshop at the West Point Military Academy. He was also awarded the NASA Glenn Summer Faculty Fellowship in 2013 and 2014, where he conducted research on the structural health of military aircraft, including the AH-64 Apache.