Bridge Monitoring
Data Acquisition for Reliable, Stand-alone Bridge Monitoring
Campbell Scientific data acquisition systems' versatile capabilities make them ideal for structural
and seismic monitoring. Our dataloggers have been used in applications ranging from simple beam fatigue
analysis, to structural mechanics research, to continuous monitoring of large, complex structures.
Highway overpasses, roads, buildings, retaining walls, bridges, and amusement park rides are the types of
structures for which our systems provide remote, unattended, and portable monitoring. Our data acquisition
systems make reliable structural measurements, even in harsh environments.
Bridges Monitored By Our Dataloggers
- James Joyce Bridge - Dublin, Ireland
- Bronx Whitestone Bridge - New York, NY
- Brooklyn Bridge - New York, NY
- Verrazano Narrows Bridge - New York, NY
- Williamsburg Bridge - New York, NY
- Throgs Neck Bridge - New York, NY
- Medway Bridge - Kent, UK
- Menai Bridge - North Wales
- Confederation Bridge - Prince Edward Island, Canada
- I-83 Ramp - Harrisburg, PA
- Birmingham Bridge- Pittsburgh, PA
- Sawmill Run Bridge - Pittsburgh, PA
- Neville Island Bridge - Pittsburgh, PA
- SR 33 Bridge - Easton, PA
- Girard Point Bridge - Philadelphia, PA
- Church Street Bridge - Melbourne, Australia
- David Trumpy Bridge - Queensland, Australia
- 15 Mile Creek Bridge - The Dalles, OR
- I-5 Mckenzie Bridge - Eugene, OR
- Willamette River Bridge, Near Willamette, OR
- I-64 over Kanawha River - Charleston, WV
- AMTRAK Susquehanna River Bridge - Perryville, MD
Bridge Monitoring System Benefits
- Onboard, programmable, excitation is provided for ratiometric bridge measurements.
- Systems provide triggered output with pretrigger data capture capability.
- Most sensors and communications options can be used, allowing systems to be customized to meet exact needs.
- Systems operate reliably in harsh environments.
- Scan rates range from a few hours to 100,000 times per second.
- Systems can report conditions by calling out to pagers, radios, or phones.
- Systems support long-term, unattended data storage and transfer.
- Pick-and-click software facilitates programming.
Bridge Monitoring and Control
The versatility of our systems allows them to be customized for each application. We offer a range of
dataloggers from the most basic system with just a few channels,
to expandable systems that measure hundreds of channels. Scan rates can be programmed from a few hours
to 100,000 times per second, depending on the datalogger model. Measurement types, recording intervals,
and processing algorithms, are also programmable. Dataloggers not only provide advanced measurement
capabilities, but can also control external devices.
Onboard processing instruction sets contain programmed algorithms that process measurements and output
results in the desired units of measure. For example, data can be displayed as rainflow or level crossing
histograms. These rainflow and level crossing algorithms allow processing for extended periods of time,
not just a limited number of cycles. The instruction sets also allow for triggered output with pretrigger
data capture capability. Triggers can be based on sensor output, time, and/or user control. For example,
if an overpass is being monitored, data collection can be triggered by a sensor detecting the approach
of a car, an earthquake, pre-programmed times, or by pushing a button.
The control functions of our dataloggers combined with their programmability allow them to sound alarms,
actuate electrical devices, or shut down equipment based on time or measured conditions. Systems can also
call out to phones, pagers, radios, and other devices to report site conditions. Voice-synthesized modems
are available, so the system can actually call and tell you what is happening.
Sensors used in Bridge Monitoring
Because our dataloggers are compatible with nearly every commercially available sensor,
you can use the sensors that best meet your application. Typical sensors used for structural and seismic
monitoring by our systems include:
- Carlson strain meters
- vibrating wire strain gauges
- foil strain gauges (set up in quarter, half, or full bridge strain configurations)
- inclinometers
- crack and joint sensors
- tilt sensors
- piezoresistive accelerometers
- piezoelectric accelerometers
- capacitive accelerometers
- borehole accelerometers
- servo force balance accelerometers
Because our dataloggers have many channel types and programmable inputs, all these sensor types can be
measured by one datalogger. Channel types include analog (single-ended and differential), pulse counters,
switched excitation, continuous analog output, digital I/O, and anti-aliasing filter. Using switched or
continuous excitation channels, our dataloggers provide excitation for ratiometric bridge measurements.
Our configurable datalogger models, the CR9000X and
CR9000XC, allow you to customize a system with the channel types
that best fit your application. The number and type of channels on most of our dataloggers are expandable
using multiplexers and other measurement peripherals. Our dataloggers have input resolutions to 0.16 microvolts,
allowing strain measurements with a resolution of a single micro-strain.
Communications
The availability of multiple communications options for retrieving, storing,
and displaying data also allows systems to be customized to meet exact needs. On-site communication options
include direct connection to a PC or laptop, PC cards, storage modules, and datalogger keyboard/display.
Telecommunication options include short-haul, telephone (including voice-synthesized and cellular), radio
frequency, multidrop, and satellite.
Software
Our Windows-based software simplifies datalogger programming, data
retrieval, and report generation. The datalogger program can be modified at any time to accommodate different
sensor configurations or new data processing requirements.
Example Application: Monitoring an Overpass
Campbell Scientific's monitoring systems are used for a variety of structural and seismic applications.
Monitoring possibilities on an overpass include:
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Phone: (780) 454 2505
