To introduce students to the working principles of systems for measuring a variety of non-electrical quantities in the civil engineering through the description of the principles of sensors and transducers  as well as, the  systems for acquisition and processing of measurement signals. This will   prepare them for the practical measurement in doing their PhD thesis.

The student is familiar with the working principles of sensors and systems for measuring of a variety of non-electrical quantities in civil engineering, as well as with the principles of acquisition and signal processing. Throughout working on the individual study the student gain more knowledge about the sensors and systems of importance for the narrow field of civil engineering he is involved in.

Theoretical part

The structure of systems for measurement of non-electrical quantities and for acquisition and processing of measuring signals. Static and dynamic characteristics of transducers (.zero, first, second order Systems, Transfer function, Application of Laplace transformation).. Working principles of resistive, capacitive, inductive, fiber-optic, piezoelectric, Doppler effect based sensors and transducers. Static an dynamic characteristics of signals (amplitude and phase characteristics,  Fourier Analysis, ). Measuring bridge circuits, Filtering, amplifying and linearization of measuring signals. Principles of A/D conversion and data acquisition. Virtual measuring system structure. Sensors embedded in intelligent materials, structures and buildings. Wireless sensors systems. Application of embedded fiber optic sensors in real time structural health monitoring of structures..

 Experimental part

Experimental determination of the dynamic characteristics of first and second order measurement systems. Measuring the extension of the console using strain gages. Measurement of relative humidity. Measuring with thermistors. Measurement of displacement with sensors using optical fibers.

Part of a course is preparing the individual paper in which the student describe or investigate the measurement system of particular importance for his PhD thesis.