Development of a Bridge Scour Monitoring System Using the MEMS Zigbee Sensor Network

Development of a Bridge Scour Monitoring System Using the MEMS Zigbee Sensor Network

The wireless micro-electro-mechanical systems(MEMS) sensor network is widely used in many fields. In this paper the MEMS pressure sensor is integrated with the Zigbee sensor network on a sensor board for real-time local bridge scour depth monitoring during a flood. Hydraulic scour is one of the major factors for bridge failure, and scour failures tend to occur suddenly without prior warning or sign of distress to the structure. Bridges subject to periods of flood/high flow require monitoring during those times in order to protect the traveling public. The proposed wireless MEMS scour-monitoring system can measure the processes of both the scouring/deposition and the variations of the water level. Several experimental runs were conducted in a flume to demonstrate the applicability of the system. Experimental results indicate that scour-monitoring system with the Zigbee sensor network has the potential to be applied in the field.