This version is available at https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/54048/ Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge.Any correspondence concerning this service should be sent to the Strathprints administrator: strathprints@strath.ac.ukThe Strathprints institutional repository (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk) is a digital archive of University of Strathclyde research outputs. It has been developed to disseminate open access research outputs, expose data about those outputs, and enable the management and persistent access to Strathclyde's intellectual output. Abstract:Hydraulic structures constitute the most vulnerable elements of transportation infrastructure.Recent increases in precipitation have resulted in severe and more frequent flash flooding incidents. This has put bridges over waterways at higher risk of failure due to scour. This study presents a new sensor for measuring scour depth variation and sediment deposition processes in the vicinity of the foundations to underpin systems for early warning of impending structural failure. The monitoring system consists of a probe with integrated electromagnetic sensors designed to detect changes in the dielectric permittivity of the surrounding bridge foundation.The probe is equipped with a wireless interface and was evaluated to assess its ability to detect scour and sediment deposition in various soil types and under temperature and water salinity conditions that would commonly occur in a practical installation environment. A novel methodology is also developed enabling discrimination between in-situ and re-deposited sediment delivering vital information about the load bearing capacity of the foundation. The experimental approach was validated using 'static' scour simulations and real-time open channel flume experiments. Results indicate that the sensor is highly sensitive to underwater bed level variations and can provide an economical and accurate structural health monitoring alternative to existing instruments.

Highlights A hybrid nanomaterial based gas-sensing array has been used for pesticide detection. The pesticide is the commercially available organophosphate based Chloract 48 EC. The array has successfully distinguished between relative humidity and pesticide. The successful operation of the array has been validated via the PCA method. This study expands the limited available results related to pesticide gas-sensors.

One of the main challenges in the design and operation of offshore wind turbines arises from the uncertainty about maximum scour depth around their foundations. Scour action can lead to excessive excavation of the surrounding seabed and is being considered as a major risk for offshore wind farm developments. An ability to gather information concerning the evolution of scouring will enable the validation of models derived from laboratory-based studies, the assessment of different engineering designs and the development of improved scour countermeasure techniques. However, real-time scour data are not being collected due to a lack of available instrumentation techniques. This paper proposes a new scour monitoring technology for offshore wind turbine installations. The monitoring system consists of arrays of small capacitive scour probes installed around the foundation structure and linked to a wireless network to enable remote data acquisition. Based on this research, it is concluded that the sensor is capable of exhibiting high sensitivity to scour and sediment deposition processes for common sea floor mediums under different temperature conditions in saline water. The proposed monitoring system has considerable potential for field applications that will contribute to improving the resilience and sustainability of offshore structures

Recent cases of dam failures indicate that the safe operation and proactive maintenance of infrastructure is of significant importance considering the growing number of ageing dams and the increase in intensity and frequency of extreme climatic events. The current procedures to assess the performance of dam infrastructure, usually based on geodetic and geotechnical instrumentation, do not provide repeatable and reliable information with regards to subsurface hazards that evolve within the body of earth-fill dams that could compromise the integrity of the structure. This increases the risk of failure with significant socio-economic impacts and long-term disruption on downstream communities. On the contrary, geophysical methods can provide advanced information about subsurface hazards and can therefore significantly assist to define the safety level of dam infrastructure. This will enable early remedial maintenance and repair actions to be carried out enhancing public safety and eventually reducing costs for asset owners.This study presents for the first time the investigation of the condition of three reservoir dams in Scotland with the application of two complementary non-invasive geophysical methods coupled with visual inspection. Electromagnetic (EM) sensing was initially employed to provide an assessment of the upper soil layers of the crest and downstream shoulder of the dam. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) arrays were then installed on the crest to assess the subsurface conditions of the dam based on the resistivity signatures. The analysis of the geophysical models identified weak zones within the body of dams associated with high resistivity patterns associated with potential animal burrowing activity and fissuring on the crest of the dam. The electrical resistivity surveys revealed low resistivity zones influenced by seepage conditions inside the body of dams but also provided an indication of potential internal erosion areas. Finally the geophysical models provided an insight of the homogeneity of the fill material and determined the dam foundation characteristics. The geophysical results presented in this investigation provide important baseline measurements and key information about the current condition and on-going performance of dam infrastructure.