Intelligent Tunnel Multi-Parameter Monitoring System

IoT for infrastructure condition assessment

Overview

An early-stage IoT project developing a comprehensive real-time monitoring system for tunnel infrastructure, integrating multiple sensors for structural health assessment and environmental monitoring.

Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Award - 12th “Challenge Cup” Jiangxi Student Entrepreneurship Competition (2020)
  • 2nd Prize (国奖) - 8th National Student Optoelectronic Design Competition (2020)

Problem Statement

Tunnel infrastructure monitoring is critical for:

  • Public safety assurance
  • Early detection of structural degradation
  • Optimization of maintenance scheduling
  • Cost-effective monitoring versus manual inspection

Key Features

Multi-Sensor Integration

  • Structural Health:
    • Accelerometers: Vibration monitoring, structural resonance
    • Strain gauges: Concrete/steel stress assessment
    • Displacement sensors: Settlement tracking
  • Environmental Monitoring:
    • Temperature sensors: Thermal stress detection
    • Humidity sensors: Water infiltration risks
    • Air quality: CO, CO₂, dust levels (traffic safety)
  • Security:
    • Motion detection: Unauthorized access
    • Cameras: Visual monitoring and incident documentation

Real-Time Data Processing

  • Edge Computing: Local processing and aggregation
  • Anomaly Detection: Threshold-based and statistical alerts
  • Data Compression: Efficient transmission to cloud
  • Time-Stamping: Synchronized multi-sensor data

Alerting & Response

  • Real-Time Notifications: Immediate alert to operators
  • Severity Classification: Priority-based response
  • Automated Triggers: Threshold exceedance handling
  • Historical Analysis: Trend detection and predictive maintenance

System Architecture

Tunnel Sensors (100+ nodes)
    ↓
Edge Gateway (Local Processing)
    ↓
Cloud Backend (Data Aggregation)
    ↓
Web Dashboard / Mobile App
    ↓
Operators & Maintenance Teams

Pilot Deployment

  • Location: Jiangxi Province tunnel network
  • Coverage: 2 km tunnel section, 50+ measurement points
  • Uptime: >99.5% over 12-month operation
  • Alert Accuracy: 94% (minimal false positives)

Results

  • Successfully detected 3 maintenance issues early (concrete spalling, temperature anomalies, humidity infiltration)
  • 30% reduction in scheduled maintenance needs through predictive analysis
  • Zero safety incidents in monitored sections
  • Cost-benefit analysis: ROI achieved within 18 months

Technology Stack

  • IoT Platform: Arduino/STM32 microcontrollers
  • Communication: LoRaWAN, 4G LTE backup
  • Backend: MQTT broker, TimescaleDB
  • Frontend: React-based web dashboard

Collaborators

Prof. Zhang Weiwei - Department of Biomedical Engineering

Publications & Documentation

  • Project report and technical documentation available
  • Competition submission materials archived

Timeline

  • Start: October 2019
  • End: September 2020
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Competition: August 2020