Tragedies like the collapse of the Champlain Towers South tower in Florida five years ago this month can be prevented with continuous structural monitoring, says Greg Batista, PE, CGC, SI, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based structural engineer, certified general contractor, and special inspector, in a column for Multifamily Dive.

“As codes evolve and technology becomes more affordable, continuous monitoring will become a standard of care in Florida’s built environment and beyond,” Batista writes. This approach will be necessary because periodic inspections alone can no longer keep aging buildings safe.

“Corrosion, cracking and deflection often begin internally,” Batista writes. “These processes can advance for months or years without visible signs. By the time deterioration appears on the surface, damage is often extensive and costly to address.”

Structural monitoring systems use sensors to measure movement, vibration, strain, and environmental conditions and the data collected from them reveal trends rather than isolated observations.

“Continuous data allows engineers to confirm whether a structure is behaving as expected, identify abnormal changes early, and prioritize maintenance before conditions escalate.”