Towards smart Cities: Foundational methodology for implementing intelligent circular resilience in heritage buildings through structural health monitoring and digital-twins – Part A

Abstract

The relentless technological evolution is reshaping Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), fostering innovative strategies in the context of smart cities. This paper explores the integration of advanced technologies—specifically the Digital Twin (DT) system—within Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) frameworks. This integration requires an efficient algorithm capable of real-time data processing, filtering, and large-scale analysis. The study introduces the concept of Intelligent Circular Resilience (ICR) as a novel DRR-oriented methodology tailored to the unique challenges of heritage buildings. ICR-SHM consists of six stages: Building System Characterization, Virtualization, sensor-based data retrieval and analysis, DT model updating, results generation, and feedback. SHM plays a central role in this framework by linking virtual and physical domains, thus reducing maintenance costs and extending service life through its adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to operate under limited data availability. As the full implementation of the framework is extensive, this paper focuses on the early-stage development and application of the first two stages: the geometric and historical characterization and virtualization of a centennial religious monument in Lima, Peru. To this end, a topographic survey using a 3D laser scanner was conducted, followed by the development of a Building Information Model (BIM) to assess and validate structural alterations since the original construction. Subsequently, a seismic damage assessment was performed using historical earthquake reports, event catalogues, and ground motion records. Results reveal a clear correlation trend between reported damage and seismic events. The study encourages the advancement of numerical–experimental integration, optimization of sensor placement for DT correlation, and enhancement of SHM performance.