Aerial Tramway Sustainable Monitoring with an Outdoor Low-Cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensor

Rafael Cardona Huerta, Fernando Moreu and Jose Antonio Lozano Galant
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Rafael Cardona Huerta: Center for Intelligent Infrastructure, Research Engineer, 202 Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Missouri Science and Technology, 500 W 16th Street, Rolla, MO 65409, USA
Fernando Moreu: Centennial Engineering Center 3056, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, MSC01 1070, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Jose Antonio Lozano Galant: Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ed. Politecnico Camilo Jose Cela, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Infrastructures such as aerial tramways carry unique traffic operations and have specific maintenance requirements that demand constant attention. It is common that old structures lack any type of automatization or monitoring systems, relying only on human judgment. Owners are interested in implementing techniques that assist them in making maintenance decisions, but are reluctant to invest in expensive and complex technology. In this study, researchers discussed with the owners different options and proposed a sustainable and cost-efficient solution to monitor the Sandia Peak Tramway operations with just two strategically located acceleration sensors. To maximize the success options researchers worked with the owners and developed a sensor that satisfied their needs. A Low-cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensor 4—Outdoors (LEWIS 4) was developed, tested and validated during the experiment. Two solar-powered units were installed by the tramway staff and recorded data for three days. When retrieved, researchers analyzed the data recorded and concluded that with only two sensors, the acceleration data collected were sufficient to determine the position and location of the tramway cars. It was also found that the sensor on the tower provides data about the cable–tower interaction and the forces caused by the friction on the system, this being a critical maintenance factor. This work summarizes a methodology for infrastructure owners consisting of guidelines to design a sustainable and affordable monitoring approach that is based on the design, development and installation of low-cost sensors.

Keywords: Arduino; aerial tramway; transportation; monitoring; acceleration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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