The need for real time and robust sensing of infrastructure risk due to extreme hydrologic events

Abstract

Scour and other hydraulic processes can be responsible for compromising the stability of linear assets and critical infrastructure (such as Highway Structures and in some cases the embankments supporting the road pavement). In extreme cases, this can even cause failure, if scour is not identified and addressed at early stages. A range of sensors can be used to detect changes in the water and river bed surface elevation, with application in flood and infrastructure scour monitoring, respectively. Here, the range of needs of the infrastructure sector are explored, with an outlook to offer suggestions for the potential application of these new sensors.