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Internet-of-Things principles applied to geotechnical monitoring activities:

The Internet of Natural Hazards (IoNH) approach

Conference Paper · October 2019

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Internet-of-Things principles applied to geotechnical monitoring activities:
The Internet of Natural Hazards (IoNH) approach
Andrea Segalini1 [0000-0001-8023-9326], Andrea Carri2 [0000-0001-5800-7887], Alessandro Valletta1 [0000-0001-9126-6717] and
Edoardo Cavalca1
1
University of Parma, 43121 Parma (PR), Italy
2 ASE – Advanced Slope Engineering S.r.l., 43124 Parma (PR), Italy
[email protected]

Abstract. Internet of Things (IoT) represents a technology approach where sensors and actuators are embedded
into physical objects and interconnected through a network, allowing for information sharing and interaction
between single components. The integration of these principles in different fields and scenarios, like logistics,
healthcare and home automation, has significantly improved the processes overall performances. This paper
presents an application of these concepts to the geotechnical field, involving the integration of innovative mon-
itoring tools with remotely controlled devices, deep machine-learning algorithms and interactive visualization
platforms. The result is an IoT-based approach to geotechnical monitoring, defined as Internet of Natural Haz-
ards (IoNH).

Keywords: Internet of Things, Geotechnics, Monitoring.

1 Introduction

Nowadays, the importance of monitoring activities in the geotechnical field is universally acknowledged, provid-
ing several advantages in terms of risk management and mitigation. These considerations led to the development
of innovative systems, featuring automatic procedures and improved resolution, accuracy and durability, if com-
pared to traditional instrumentation [1]. In this context, the integration of Internet-of-Things (IoT) principles plays
a relevant role by providing useful tools to increase system functionality and data reliability. Within civil and
environmental engineering fields, IoT has been implemented in monitoring systems related to landslides [2], oil
and gas wells [3] and tailing dams [4].

2 Materials and Methods

The system described in this paper has been developed for the management of monitoring data recorded by tools
based on MUMS (Modular Underground Monitoring System) approach [5], from their on-site acquisition to their
visualization.
MUMS instrumentation follows an innovative approach to geotechnical monitoring activities, providing an
integrate system featuring fully automated processes for data acquisition, storage, elaboration and representation.
This patented system relies on a combination of sensors embedded in specifically molded nodes (called Links)
connected by an aramid fiber and an electrical cable, in order to form an arbitrary long chain. It is possible to
customize Links according to the specific case, with sensors able to record quantities such as displacements, tem-
perature and water level. Originally designed for slope displacements monitoring [6], MUMS devices have been
improved and modified during the years in order to adapt to different scenarios, including tunneling [7] and geo-
thermal plants [8], while following the same innovative principles.
The result is the Internet of Natural Hazards (IoNH), an IoT-based technology applied to geotechnical field and
natural risk management.

3 Results and Discussion

The described system (Fig. 1) is composed of three main stages, regards all MUMS-based devices and properly
adapted traditional instrumentations.
During the acquisition phase, the Data Logger interrogates installed sensors 64 times for each reading, saving
the mean values on a local SD-card and sending them to the mainframe server. Here, the data received are stored
in a dynamic MySQL database with daily multi-level backups and secure access. It is possible to control the Data
 Logger remotely, checking its functionality and modifying configuration settings according to specific needs (e.g.
sampling frequency, data transmission intervals, power supply management).
In the calculation step, a dedicated deep learning software elaborates raw data (electric signals), coupling them
with calibration coefficients computed before the tool installation. During this phase, the mainframe server ana-
lyzes available data applying several algorithms and statistical procedures in order to check the dataset quality.
The result of this phase is a new set of elaborated data, corresponding to physical quantities, which are then stored
in a parallel section of the dynamic MySQL database.
The last phase comprehends the elaborated data representation on a dynamic and interactive web-based plat-
form, secured by a password-protected access system, together with the activation of alert and alarm procedures.
Monitoring results are available anytime and can be browsed using multiple devices (e.g. PC, Tablet, Smartphone,
…). The visualization platform is a dynamic collector of information, represented by different graphs, widgets and
tools that change as the user interacts with them, increasing the user experience. Additionally, data can be exported
using common formats, such as spreadsheets or images. This innovative way of data representation allows the user
to have an immediate perception of occurring events, accessing the desired results in a simple and immediate form.

Fig. 1. IoNH system structure from data acquisition to its elaboration, storage and visualization.

4 Conclusions

The integration of IoT principles in geotechnical activities can lead to significant upgrades in data management
and accessibility. The approach presented, defined as Internet of Natural Hazards (IoNH), displays a successful
application of these concepts, resulting in an innovative system integrating IoT components for improved proce-
dures of geotechnical monitoring data acquisition, elaboration and visualization.

References
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