This paper describes the design and testing of a wireless sensor network based on the SmartBrick, a low-power SHM device developed by the authors. The SmartBrick serves as the base station for the network, which utilizes additional sensor nodes to periodically evaluate the condition of the structure. Each node measures vibration, tilt, humidity, and strain, and is designed for easy interfacing of virtually any other analog or digital sensor. The sensor nodes use Zigbee to transmit their data to the base station, which in turn uses the GSM cellular phone network to provide long-range communication and support for remote control.The system has been designed from the outset to minimize power consumption, and is projected to operate autonomously for up to four years without any on-site maintenance, due largely to the minimal power consumption and rugged design. Remote calibration over the GSM network further increases the autonomy of the system. Most importantly, it can perform all requisite actions with no cables for power or communication. The focus of this paper is the addition of short-range wireless communication over Zigbee. This allows a network of several devices to be used to monitor larger structures, such as multi-span bridges. Results of laboratory testing are included and discussed in detail, demonstrating the unique capabilities of the proposed SHM system.

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This paper describes an autonomous wireless system that generates road safety alerts, in the form of SMS and email messages, and sends them to motorists subscribed to the service. Drivers who regularly traverse a particular route are the main beneficiaries of the proposed system, which is intended for sparsely populated rural areas, where information available to drivers about road safety, especially bridge conditions, is very limited. At the heart of this system is the SmartBrick, a wireless system for remote structural health monitoring that has been presented in our previous work. Sensors on the SmartBrick network regularly collect data on water level, temperature, strain, and other parameters important to safety of a bridge. This information is stored on the device, and reported to a remote server over the GSM cellular infrastructure. The system generates alerts indicating hazardous road conditions when the data exceeds thresholds that can be remotely changed. The remote server and any number of designated authorities can be notified by email, FTP, and SMS. Drivers can view road conditions and subscribe to SMS and/or email alerts through a web page. The subscription-only form of alert generation has been deliberately selected to mitigate privacy concerns. The proposed system can significantly increase the safety of travel through rural areas. Real-time availability of information to transportation authorities and law enforcement officials facilitates early or proactive reaction to road hazards. Direct notification of drivers further increases the utility of the system in increasing the safety of the traveling public.

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