Nondestructive Monitoring of a Pipe Network using a MEMS-Based Wireless Network

Shinozuka M., Chou P. H., Kim S., Kim H. R., Yoon E., Mustafa H., ...More

Conference on Nondestructive Characterization for Composite Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Infrastructure, and Homeland Security 2010, California, United States Of America, 8 - 11 March 2010, vol.7649 identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume: 7649
  • Doi Number: 10.1117/12.848808
  • City: California
  • Country: United States Of America
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A MEMS-based wireless sensor network (WSN) is developed for nondestructive monitoring of pipeline systems. It incorporates MEMS accelerometers for measuring vibration on the surface of a pipe to determine the change in water pressure caused by rupture and the damage location. This system enables various sensor boards and camera modules to be daisy-chained underground and to transmit data with a shared radio board for data uplink. Challenges include reliable long-range communication, precise time synchronization, effective bandwidth usage, and power management. The low-cost MEMS technology, saved wiring cost, and simple installation without destructive modification enable large-scale deployment at an affordable cost.