A　method　for　sensor　location　selection　was　proposed　for　the　response　reconstruction　of　a　substructure.　According　to　the　structure　of　a　system,　the　whole　structure　was　disassembled　into　several　substructures　to　reduce　the　number　of　degrees　of　freedom　(DOFs).　Then　the　sensor　location　optimization　and　response　reconstruction　of　each　substructure　were　conducted　separately.　Since　the　number　of　DOFs　of　each　substructure　is　far　less　than　that　of　the　whole　structure,　the　method　can　improve　the　efficiency　of　sensor　location　optimization　and　response　reconstruction.　The　sensor　locations　were　determined　by　minimizing　the　reconstruction　errors　between　the　reconstructed　and　analyzed　responses.　The　results　of　numerical　and　experimental　investigations　demonstrate　that　the　reconstructed　response　by　using　finite　measurements　match　well　with　the　analyzed　or　measured　responses　both　in　time　and　frequency　domains.　The　proposed　method　does　not　reuqire　to　isolate　the　substructures　and　consider　the　complicated　boundary　conditions,　which　is　beneficial　for　its　application　in　large-scale　civil　engineering　structures.　©　2020,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Vibration　and　Shock.　All　right　reserved.