Structural Health Monitoring: IoT Sensors for Bridges, Buildings, and Infrastructure

When Infrastructure Fails

Infrastructure failures are catastrophic:

• Morandi Bridge collapse (2018): 43 fatalities
• Surfside condo collapse (2021): 98 fatalities
• Estimated 46,000 US bridges rated structurally deficient

Continuous monitoring can detect problems before they become disasters.

What Structural Health Monitoring Measures

Key Parameters

Why LoRaWAN for SHM?

Challenge: Long-Term Deployments

Structural monitoring requires decades of continuous operation:

• 10+ year battery life critical
• Remote locations with no power
• Minimal maintenance access

Challenge: Difficult RF Environments

• Metal structures (bridges, steel buildings)
• Concrete enclosures
• Underground locations

LoRaWAN's excellent penetration and range overcome these challenges.

Application Examples

Bridge Monitoring

• Strain sensors on critical members
• Tilt sensors on piers and abutments
• Scour monitoring at foundations
• Traffic load correlation

Building Monitoring

• Foundation settlement detection
• Facade movement tracking
• Post-earthquake damage assessment
• Historical building preservation

Retaining Walls and Slopes

• Piezometers for water pressure
• Inclinometers for movement
• Extensometers for ground strain

Case Study: Highway Bridge Network

A state DOT deployed LoRaWAN monitoring across 50 bridges:

Deployment per bridge:

• 8 strain sensors on girders
• 4 tilt sensors on piers
• 2 scour sensors at foundations
• 1 weather station
• 1 solar-powered gateway

Results:

• 3 bridges identified for immediate repair (prevented potential failures)
• $12M saved vs scheduled inspections finding issues later
• 90% reduction in inspection labor
• Real-time alerts during extreme weather events

Implementation Considerations

Sensor Installation

• Professional installation critical
• Proper surface preparation
• Protection from environmental damage
• Documented baseline readings

Data Interpretation

• Establish baseline behavior
• Account for thermal effects
• Correlate with load patterns
• Trend analysis over years

---

Protect critical infrastructure with ParticLIO structural monitoring sensors. Request an assessment.