| Description |
viii, 79 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Summary |
"Accurate real time monitoring is gaining critical importance in a broad range of domains. Of particular interest to this research is the development of monitoring and detection systems for environmental and structural phenomena. Transportation infrastructures, in particular bridges, provide examples for both categories. Flooding of low water bridges is one example of rapidly evolving environmental phenomena, while stress and vibration are structural phenomena in need of monitoring. Early warning and advanced preparation for emergency are two of the most effective lines of defense against catastrophic events, where real time monitoring can facilitate containment and recovery efforts. The operating environment of monitoring systems may be hostile or difficult to access, and as such, ease of installation and maintenance are important concerns. Large-scale deployment of such systems necessitates low cost. Other desirable features include low power consumption, compact size, and survivability against accidents and tampering. This thesis describes the design and development of an autonomous wireless monitoring device for structural and environmental monitoring. The main objective is to provide a system capable of monitoring the selected site for several years without human intervention. The device utilizes the GSM mobile network infrastructure for communication with the external world. Robustness, low power consumption, low cost, reliability, and ease of installation and maintenance were key issues of concern in the design and implementation of the system. The device has been implemented and will be deployed at Bagnell Dam in Osage Beach, MO, in November 2006. The hardware and software validation carried out in the course of development will be supplemented with comprehensive field testing"--Abstract, leaf iii. |
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