The innovation, named Sentinel, repurposes standard construction components made from conductive concrete that alters its electrical resistance when cracked. Embedded electrodes capture these resistance changes and wirelessly relay the data directly to an online monitoring dashboard. Ong rigorously refined the design across more than 125 test samples during his master's research at De La Salle University. The system is already undergoing real-world validation inside a building located in the Philippines.
Key points
Incorporating sensors into standard concrete spacers allows new buildings to gain structu…: Incorporating sensors into standard concrete spacers allows new buildings to gain structural health monitoring without extra building elements.
Wireless transmission of electrical resistance data provides engineers with rapid alerts…: Wireless transmission of electrical resistance data provides engineers with rapid alerts regarding hidden structural damage after earthquakes.
Planned developments include upgrading the sensor hardware with custom printed circuit bo…: Planned developments include upgrading the sensor hardware with custom printed circuit boards and designing retrofittable models for existing buildings.
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A Filipino structural engineer who developed a sensor to detect hidden damage in buildings after earthquakes has won the 2026 James Dyson Award's Global Sustainability prize. Aldrei Ong, a graduate of De La Salle University in the Philippines, received the recognition for his invention, Sentinel, which could help engineers identify buildings at risk of collapse. The award, announced on Wednesday, comes with £30,000 to support further development of the technology.
According to the Dyson's website, Sentinel is designed to address a problem that often arises after earthquakes. Although a building may appear safe from the outside, its concrete structures can have cracks or internal damage that are difficult to detect. Such damage can make it dangerous for people to continue using the building.
Determining whether these structures are safe usually requires visual inspections and specialist testing. The process becomes particularly difficult after a major earthquake, when several buildings may need to be checked at the same time. These assessments can take considerable time and money, potentially delaying decisions about whether people can safely return.
The eighth-generation tablet brings significant premium engineering to Apple's compact lineup, including an OLED screen and certified IP67 water resistance for the first time. However, a sharp £200 price increase narrows the gap with larger alternatives like the 11-inch iPad Air M4. Prospective buyers must balance top-tier processing power and lighter portability against persistent omissions like a 60Hz screen limit and Touch ID.
This release marks a public stance from the organization regarding educational access and resources. The blog entry emphasizes current challenges where learning materials face restrictive barriers. Readers are directed to the main platform to examine the company's perspectives on the issue.
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