A　novel　finite　element　(FE)　model　updating　method　based　on　multi-resolution　analysis　(MRA)　is　proposed.　The　true　stiffness　of　the　FE　model　is　considered　as　the　superposition　of　two　pieces　of　stiffness　information　of　different　resolutions:　the　pre-defined　stiffness　information　and　updating　stiffness　information.　While　the　resolution　of　former　is　solely　decided　by　the　meshing　density　of　the　FE　model,　the　resolution　of　latter　is　decided　by　the　limited　information　obtained　from　the　experiment.　The　latter　resolution　is　considerably　lower　than　the　former.　Second　generation　wavelet　is　adopted　to　describe　the　updating　stiffness　information　in　the　framework　of　MRA.　This　updating　stiffness　in　MRA　is　realized　at　low　level　of　resolution,　therefore,　needs　less　number　of　updating　parameters.　The　efficiency　of　the　optimization　process　is　thus　enhanced.　The　proposed　method　is　suitable　for　the　identification　of　multiple　irregular　cracks　and　performs　well　in　capturing　the　global　features　of　the　structural　damage.　After　the　global　features　are　identified,　a　refinement　process　proposed　in　the　paper　can　be　carried　out　to　improve　the　performance　of　the　MRA　of　the　updating　information.　The　effectiveness　of　the　method　is　verified　by　numerical　simulations　of　a　box　girder　and　the　experiment　of　a　three-span　continues　pre-stressed　concrete　bridge.　It　is　shown　that　the　proposed　method　corresponds　well　to　the　global　features　of　the　structural　damage　and　is　stable　against　the　perturbation　of　modal　parameters　and　small　variations　of　the　damage.