Water level of rivers can rise in heavy rainfall and cause flooding and damage to bridge structures. As a result, monitoring water level under a bridge is one of the significant aspects of a bridge’s health monitoring. This kind of monitoring can also help to evaluate flood zones. The ability to monitor the water level of bridges, especially at an early stage, before it becomes a major issue or a flood event which may lead to the compromise or a bridge, a bridge road closure, and/or expensive repairs can be important to bridge authorities and owners.
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Sensing technologies can be put in place for initial water level assessment and then used to understand how much and how quickly the water level changes with rain events. The applicable, measurable and monitorable quantities in this kind of monitoring are water level and ambient temperature/humidity.  Typically, water level monitoring data isused for decision support (monitor water level, detect flood condition, close bridge during massive floods) and structural assessment prioritization after major events.  When paired with other sensing technologies such as tilt, displacement, strain SenSpot and other Resensys gauges (these are extras and not part of the “basic” water level monitoring solution), owners can also quickly detect structural integrity after major distress events such as massive floods, hurricanes and earthquake.  Since rainfall and flooding conditions are largely unpredictable and can have wide-spread, concurrent impact within a geographic area, long term continuous monitoring is required at assets and locations susceptible to these threats.

To allow owners to make timely, data-driven decisions after a rainfall or flooding event, Resensys has developed a unique wireless structural health monitoring solution(SHM), which includes wireless water level meter and wireless solar powered cameras. This allows owners to conduct complete and fast condition awareness and remote monitoring on water levels of bridges and flood zones even when timely physical access to these assets for inspection is challenging. The water level sensor provides constant monitoring of water level, helping to detect flood condition.  The wireless camera provides visual feedback, helping to conduct quick assessment of conditions after severe floods when time is of the essence.   Like all Resensys products, the Wireless Water Level Meter SenSpot (Ultrasonic Level Meter SenSpot) and the Wireless Solar Powered Camera are ultra-low power and low-maintenance, so they are extremely well-suited for long-term continuous applications where cost-effective, accurate monitoring is needed.

Resensys SenSpot sensors are able to monitor water levels in concrete, steel and composite materials under wet, humid and extreme weather conditions. Resensys products are corrosion resistant and can withstand salty environments.

A Resensys Water Level Monitoring solution comprises Wireless Water Level Meter SenSpot and Wireless Solar Powered Cameras to measure and collect the data required for required situation, a SeniMax Gateway to transmit data away from the site and the SenScope to display user-interface. (See images below). Although not discussed in detail in this application note, other sensors can also be added to provide more extensive monitoring of other factors such as tilt, displacement, strain etc. in the event that the rainfall/ flooding event does cause structural damage.