A Wireless System for Real-Time Environmental and Structural Monitoring

Accurate real-time monitoring of structural health can result in significant safety improvements, while providing data that can be used to improve design and construction practices. For bridges, monitoring of water level, tilt, displacement, strain, and vibration can provide snapshots of the state of the structure. Real-time measurement and communication of this information can be invaluable in guiding decisions regarding the safety and remaining fatigue life of a bridge. This paper describes the real-time data acquisition, communication, and alerting capabilities of the Flood Frog, an autonomous wireless system for remote monitoring. Battery power and utilization of the GSM cellular network result in a completely wireless system. Coupled with the low cost of the device, the elimination of cables allows deployment in locations where autonomous monitoring is hindered by cost or infeasibility of installation. The first prototype of the system was deployed in Osage Beach, MO in November 2006.

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