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Title:
SENSOR-ENABLED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE HEALTH, CONDITION, AND/OR STATUS OF INFRASTRUCTURE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2021/155358
Kind Code:
A4
Abstract:
A sensor-enabled geogrid system for and method of monitoring the health, condition, and/or status of infrastructure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the sensor-enabled geogrid system includes a sensor-enabled geogrid that further includes a geogrid holding an arrangement of one or more sensors. The sensor-enabled geogrid system further includes a communication means or network for collecting information and/or data from the sensorenabled geogrid about the health, condition, and/or status of infrastructure. Further, a method of using the presently disclosed sensor-enabled geogrid system for monitoring the health, condition, and/or status of infrastructure is provided.

Inventors:
CAVANAUGH JOSEPH (US)
HAMMOND MATTHEW (US)
WALLACE JOHN (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2021/016061
Publication Date:
September 23, 2021
Filing Date:
February 01, 2021
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
TENSAR INT CORPORATION (US)
International Classes:
G01L5/102; G01L5/101; G01M5/00
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MILLS, E. Eric (US)
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Claims:
AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 09 August 2021 (09.08.2021)

1. A system for infrastructure monitoring, comprising: a sensor enabled geogrid, comprising: a geogrid; and one or more sensors, the one or more sensors operatively configured to structural members of the geogrid a sensor pod with a protective enclosure; a microcontroller, configured within the sensor pod, the microcontroller configured to receive signals from the one or more sensors; a gateway device, wherein the gateway device is in communication with the microcontroller within the sensor pod; and a computing network, wherein the computing network is equipped to receive data from the microcontroller.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geogrid is a multi-axial geogrid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the geogrid is comprised of polymeric materials.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor enabled geogrid is configured with a plurality of sensor pod.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a strain gauge operatively configured to a structural member of the geogrid.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a flex sensor operatively configured to a structural member of the geogrid.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a moisture sensor operatively configured to a structural member of the geogrid.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a temperature sensor operatively configured to a structural member of the geogrid.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises an accelerometer operatively configured to a structural member of the geogrid.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to a gateway through a wireless communication protocol.

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11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gateway communicates with a plurality of sensor pods.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to the computing network to allow viewing of the signals acquired from the sensor enabled geogrid.

13. An apparatus for infrastructure monitoring, comprising: a sensor pod, comprising: a protective enclosure; a microcontroller; a power supply; and a communications adapter configured for wired or wireless communication. a strain gauge, configured to the sensor pod; a moisture sensor, configured to the sensor pod; and a temperature sensor, configured to the sensor pod.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor pod is further configured to an accelerometer.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor pod is further configured to a flex sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the strain gauge is attached to a multi-axial geogrid.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor pod is attached to a multi-axial geogrid.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor pod is configured to a geofabric.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communications adapter is configured to a gateway device.

20. A method for monitoring status of geogrid supported infrastructure, comprising: distributing a sensor enabled geogrid within infrastructure; receiving, by a microcontroller within a sensor pod with a protective enclosure, a signal from the sensor enabled geogrid within the infrastructure; processing, by the microcontroller, wherein the processing produces time series data from the signal from the sensor enabled geogrid within the infrastructure; and transmitting, by a communications adapter configured to the microcontroller, the time series data to a computing network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein distributing the sensor enabled geo grid within infrastructure places the sensor enabled grid under a ballast substrate.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein processing by the microcontroller, further comprises generating status notifications based on change in signal from the sensor enabled geogrid within the infrastructure.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting the time series data further comprises transmitting coordinates of a location of the signal received by the microcontroller.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising filtering, by the microcontroller, the signal, wherein filtering provides a sampling of the signal within a set of parameters.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising processing, by the microcontroller with a feedback loop, wherein the feedback loop processes previous time series data.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving, by the microcontroller, receives a signal from a strain gauge.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving, by the microcontroller, receives a signal from a flex sensor.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving, by the microcontroller, receives a signal from a moisture sensor.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving, by the microcontroller, receives a signal from a temperature sensor.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving, by the microcontroller, receives a signal from an accelerometer.

31. A method for monitoring condition and/or health of infrastructure, comprising: installing a sensor enabled geogrid in infrastructure; providing a communication link from the sensor enabled geogrid to a computing network; monitoring information transmitted from the sensor enabled geogrid; analyzing the information from the sensor enabled geogrid, wherein analyzing processes the information with an infrastructure processing engine; and identifying, by a computing device, in the information, changes in the condition and/or health of the infrastructure.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising taking preventative measures and/or corrective measures to the infrastructure.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein installing a sensor enabled geogrid places a strain gauge on the surface of the geogrid material to detect strain on the geogrid.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein installing a sensor enabled geogrid places a flex sensor on the surface of the geogrid material to detect flex on the geogrid.

35. The method of claim 31 , wherein monitoring information is performed by detecting information that exceeds threshold parameters.