16.07.08
Battery-powered wireless sensor from SPPS remotely monitors movement
SP Property Services (SPPS), one of the largest independent suppliers of crack and level monitoring services in the UK, now offers a battery-powered wireless sensor that remotely monitors movement of any structure.
Already well-established in the insurance industry, SPPS is working alongside leading organisations within the rail sector that have been quick to recognise the benefits this technology will bring.
The intelligent wireless sensors, developed by leading telemetry specialist BOX Telematics, have a resolution of 0.01mm and collect, log and transmit data 24/7 to the Internet, alerting clients via email, to any movement above agreed thresholds.
Once fitted, tested and calibrated, the devices provide continuous daily readings that are instantly accessible for analysis. Perfect for remote areas or where access is difficult, the sensors operate using an enhanced mixture of SMS and 2.5G Global Standard Mobile (GSM) communications infrastructure.
No other supplier has been able to offer clients 24/7 remote monitoring with ‘real time’ online data that highlights crack opening and closure trends, direction of movement and cross references with temperature readings.
Always on the look out for innovative information and communication solutions, Network Rail is keen to embrace technology that lessens the logistics involved in monitoring structures and reduces its ‘carbon footprint’ in the process.
One of Network Rail’s London & North Western area structures maintenance engineers, Marc Walker, installed a sensor on a bridge in Northwich last October and is looking to use three to four units on some 15 structures over the next couple of months. He is keen to promote the technology across other territories and it’s currently being trialled by Mouchel, Network Rail’s consultants in Rugby.
Marc comments: “Whilst everyone is comfortable with traditional methods of monitoring, it does involve a fair amount of logistics, down time for the train operator and periods of missed readings. Up until now, there hasn’t been a viable alternative on the market, so I welcome this development. These units will save us the costs involved with examining our infrastructure, relieve pressure on our examiners and ease their admin burden.”
He works with a team of 10 examiners who visit structures on a fortnightly to yearly basis. Marc concedes: “Nothing can replace a pair of eyes or a tactile examination, but I believe these sensors should work alongside engineers, reducing the amount of times we have to close roads and stop trains. A unit takes daily readings, which means, for instance, that instead of our team making monthly inspections, they can visit every six months.”
Fewer journeys equal fewer CO2 emissions. Marc calculates that if the technology was rolled out nationally across Network Rail’s five territories it would reduce its carbon emissions by over 196 tonnes per year.
It’s widely recognised that readings taken from sporadically visited structures, for example once or twice a year, only provide a ‘snapshot in time’. However, as the sensors transmit data continuously, they give a more detailed movement overview, taking into account seasonal changes.
Marc continues: “Our examiners are able to interrogate the data electronically, rather than sift through reams of reports. It’s easily interpreted and, over time, we will be able to view data from any given period, which would currently involve a lot of admin support to do this.”
He concludes: “You can’t ignore the time-saving, logistical and financial benefits. BOX just gets on with the business. It ‘wakes up’ three times a day, takes its readings, transmits them and then we analyse them. It hasn’t missed a reading slot yet.”
Tube Lines is also evaluating BOX technology and in January installed two units to a bridge in Stanmore that’s shown signs of intermittent movement to known fractures over a long period. They will be used on a trial basis for a year.
Inspection manager Mac McElhinney comments: “We’re always looking to the future for ways of creating efficiencies while improving what we do, so we’re interested in new technology. So far, the data collected has met our expectations with accurate, live readings which can be downloaded at any time. Also trigger levels can be set to warn of movement beyond the norm.”
For innovation to succeed there needs to be a ‘leap of faith’ by organisations keen to embrace a new concept and ‘lead the way’. Whilst these sensors should not replace traditional monitoring methods, there are clear benefits for adopting the ‘new’ and using it alongside the ‘old’ – as evidenced by Network Rail and Tube Lines
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