Design and development of wireless underground sensor networks for pipeline monitoring

[摘要] Infrastructure monitoring, and specifically pipeline monitoring (e.g. water supply systems), is becoming crucial in order to achieve improved asset management and a more sustainable future. However, different drawbacks in existing methods of monitoring have prevented them from being widely used on water distribution systems. In this research a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art in pipeline monitoring is presented and the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods are discussed in detail. An ultra-low power Wireless Underground Sensor Network (WUSN) has been carefully researched, designed, developed and presented as part of this project. In addition, a novel non-invasive (to the pipe) relative pressure sensor assembly has been designed, modelled and developed based on Force Sensitive Resistors (FSR). The performance of this sensor is validated by comparison with commercial pressure sensors, and both laboratory and field trials. In this research existing models for RF transmission are reviewed and compared with measurements from field trials. In addition a modification to an existing method of extracting real and imaginary parts of permittivity is proposed in order to improve the accuracy of the existing RF propagation models.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

[关键词] T Technology;TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)