An efficient energy measurement system based on the TOF sensor for structural crack monitoring in architecture

ABSTRACT With the continuous development of a society in which construction works are ubiquitous, investors often accelerate the progress of construction projects and may neglect to follow the proposed construction processes. As a result, construction works decrease in durability and become more susceptible to cracking, breakages, or collapse, resulting in significant damage to people and property. Meanwhile, labour to monitor the progress of works is often time-consuming, effortful, prone to errors, and vulnerable to risk. This study introduces a system that uses a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) consisting of a laser-ranging Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor module for structural crack monitoring in architecture. The proposed system collects data on the variation in amplitude of an existing crack as well as environmental factors that can adversely affect cracks such as temperature, humidity, and vibration. This aids the assessment of safety levels by providing warnings and remedies as quickly as possible, contributing to raising the safety level for workers and people living in the area, and minimizing potential damage. Test results demonstrate the following advantages: the device operates stably in extreme weather conditions; has an expected lifetime of more than ten years; and features high accuracy, long data transmission, and low-cost, low-power operation.