Design of a new power-efficient wireless sensor system for structural health monitoring

The present paper examines the architecture for a wireless structural health monitoring system for civil infrastructures. The primary objective of this architecture is the creation of a sensors network that is accurate, reliable, low cost, generic in form and easy to install and maintain. The key element of this architecture is a low power consumption multi-sensor modular unit. The paper summarizes the prototype design and implementation of the multi-sensor modular unit, using available technologies from the marketplace. The individual components are briefly presented and their selection criteria are discussed. The integrated prototype implementation is evaluated with multiple validation tests in a laboratory setting.