Burj Khalifa, Dubai Dynamic Monitoring of World’s Tallest Man-made Structure CX1 provides real-world data Close to Dubai’s main business district, the Burj Khalifa towers over Downtown Dubai. Previously known as the Burj Dubai, at 2,717 feet (828 meters) tall, this freestanding skyscraper serves many functions. From a luxury Armani hotel to a million-dollar residential apartment complex and exclusive corporate suites, Burj Khalifa encompasses around five million square feet, and is the tallest freestanding, manmade structure in the world. Almost everything about Burj Khalifa is record breaking. From the world’s fastest and highest elevator at almost 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour) to the world’s highest swimming pool on the 76th floor, this skyscraper is the first of its size to include residential living space. The challenge: With so many superlatives, the building required advanced construction techniques as well as the subject of detailed study. Computer modelling was used to predict the structural properties, not just for the finished building, but throughout construction. However, when utilizing computer modelling - especially for one-of-a-kind structures like the Burj Khalifa, computer models require real-world data comparisons. In turn, Team Members: • Emaar Properties (Owner) • Samsung C&T (Contractor) • CPP Wind Engineering (System Architect and Engineer) • SENSR (Instrumentation) “Integrating the CX1 with our LabVIEW code running on compact and reliable Mac Minis was easier than I could have ever hoped. The API has run flawlessly on our chosen platform and SENSR’s customization of it delivered exactly the data stream we required in an easily-ingested format. ” 690 East Bridge Street, P.O. Box 158 • Elkader, IA 52043 USA Tel: 563.245.3750 • www.sensr.com Tom Lawton, Systems Engineer at CPP “The CX1 is a remarkable solution; it costs less than traditional solutions as well as does more and with fewer additional external components. Had we used the CX1 units alone, we could have simply screwed the systems to the wall, plugged them into PoE ports and started taking data. With accelerometers installed in seven locations, the savings would have been tremendous. As an integrated and rugged device, it is inherently easier to deploy, more stable and more reliable than using individual components. Since it’s also cheaper and has more features, I can’t think why I’d select anything else in future!” Tom Lawton, Systems Engineer at CPP CPP chose the SENSR CX1 accelerometer as the ideal tool for the job, deployed alongside traditional servo accelerometers and their associated data acquisition equipment. The solution: By providing the CX1 system, a versatile, all-in-one sensor for monitoring many conditions, the easy-of-use and fast connection allowed for quick tests and investigations. According to Tom Lawton, Systems Engineer at CPP, the CX1 was the perfect choice for monitoring and providing real-world data. According to Lawton, to match existing systems, they had to install traditional accelerometers and DAQ, requiring eight separate components and their cable management, mounted in tight space. With three accelerometer locations in the basement of the structure and four locations in the tower measuring the building’s response, the CX1 measures any seismic inputs to the building. The CX1 jointly holds the honor of being the world’s “tallest” accelerometer plugged into the world’s tallest ethernet port, mounted under the floor of the tiny observation deck at the very top of Burj Khalifa’s slender pinnacle. The result: CX1 system According to CPP Wind Vice President, Roy Denoon, Ph.D., the results show that the CX1 solution is performing excellently. At the pinnacle, the numbers agree perfectly with the traditional accelerometer, and performance has been flawless in extreme conditions. The CX1 regularly reads temperatures in excess of 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) and has remained accurate and reliable. CPP will continue to monitor Burj Khalifa for the next two years, yielding a valuable dataset of the structure’s every response. 690 East Bridge Street, P.O. Box 158 • Elkader, IA 52043 USA Tel: 563.245.3750 • www.sensr.com “As recognized experts in the field of prediction and measurement of the response of buildings and structures to wind effects, we are always looking for the simplest and most robust solutions to our instrumentation needs. Through our whole system design process for Burj Khalifa’s BMMS, we have been continually impressed by SENSR’s expertise and helpfulness, along with the quality of the CX1 network accelerometer.” Roy Denoon, Ph.D., CPP Wind Vice President