Application of Fibre-Optic technologies for Real-time Structural Monitoring - The MONICO EC Project Konstantinos Loupos 1 , George Kanellos 1 , Oreste Bursi 2 , Stamatia Frondistou 3 , Johann Meisner 4 , Dimitrios Bairaktaris 5 , Bruno Griffoni 6 , Athanasios Orfanoudakis 7 1 Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, 9 Iroon Polytexneiou Street, 15773, Athens, Greece, E-mail: kloupos@iccs.gr, gtkanellos@gmai.com 2 University of Trento, Department of Mechanical and Structural Engineering, via Mesiano 77, 38100 Povo, Italy, email: oreste.bursi@ing.unitn.it 3 RISA Sicherheitsanalysen GmbH, 55 Krumme Straße, 10627 Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany, E-mail: matafron@otenet.gr 4 Advanced Optics Solutions GmbH, 35 Ammonstrasse, D-01067, Dresden, Germany, E-mail: meissner@aos-fiber.com 5 D. Bairaktaris And Associates – Structural Design Office Ltd, 17 Pesmazoglou, Kifisia, 14561, Athens, Greece, E-mail: baisteng@otenet.gr 6 GHT Photonics Srl, 55 via Istria, 35135 Padova, Italy, E-mail: bgriffoni@ghtphotonics.com 7 Optronics Technologies SA, 79-81 Thessalonikis str, 183 46 Moschato, Athens, Greece, Email: thorfanoudakis@optronics.gr Abstract. There is a high need for increased safety standards in civil structures especially in densely populated regions with a high seismicity that has urged technologies emerge, supporting safety under various circumstances. Evolving technologies such as fiber-optics have a lot to offer in the field of structural monitoring and in general safety since they can provide the basis for condition assessment before, during or after any event. For the precise and quick structural health assessment, advanced algorithms are needed to be developed to run under operating and seismic loads while at the same time existing algorithms should be improved. Optical sensing technologies are technologically progressing day by day and thus it is quite important that the already existing and emerging deformation technologies are evaluated and optimised so that they alone, or in combination, can provide optimal performance in the structural sensing of structures and particularly tunnels. The aim of the MONICO EC Project is to provide the participating Enterprises, with a prototype system that will include an optimized fibre optics based deformation-sensing system for real-time measurement of deformations of reinforced concrete linings in tunnels and a Decision-Support-System (including user interface and decision suitable algorithms) that can drive proactive maintenance and earthquake risk management that will assess the structural reliability of the monitored lining under operating and seismic loads. Through this paper, the technologies, algorithms and supporting software components will be presented together with the test results of the large-scale tests of the MONICO project.