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Smart sensors monitor the safety of linear structures

The monitoring of protective systems for linear structures – roads and railways – is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Traditional visual inspections of fences, retaining walls, and gabions are costly, slow, and often only reveal problems when they already pose a risk. A team from the VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, specifically from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has therefore developed a unique wireless monitoring system described in a technical article in Sensors magazine.

The solution is based on two types of smart sensors. The first uses a three-axis accelerometer and is designed for protective fences. It can distinguish between slow static changes (e.g., gradual tilting of the fence due to sedimentation) and sudden dynamic events, such as impacts from falling rocks. These events can immediately — asynchronously — trigger an alarm, without waiting for a regular reading. The second type of sensor monitors the load using strain gauge sensors in the anchors of retaining walls or gabions and allows long-term monitoring of slope tension and movement.

A key element of the entire system is the Czech IQRF wireless technology, which offers extremely low energy consumption and a robust MESH topology. This means that data always finds its way through the network, even if some nodes are temporarily down.

The functionality of the solution has been verified in several case studies – from a test polygon in Málkov to the live deployment of protective fences above the railway line in Zbraslav to the monitoring of slope stability near the road in Mokré Lazce. The results show that the system can not only reliably detect impacts and deformations, but also provide continuous data for monitoring long-term trends.

This approach shifts the management of linear structures from reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance – i.e., to the timely prevention of problems before they threaten operational safety.

Further information

• IQRF technology – www.iqrf.org
• MICRORISC – www.microrisc.com
• IQRF Alliance – www.iqrfalliance.org

Note: IQRF^® technology is constantly evolving. The parameters and features mentioned in this episode may change over time.