IoT Sensor Fusion for Low-Cost Cloud Based Monitoring for Resilient Levees and Embankments

The performance and longevity of geo-infrastructure assets such as levees and highway embankments depend on geotechnical (embankment, foundations, slopes) components, both influenced by soil conditions, hydraulic loads, and disruptions due to weather. Continuous, data-driven monitoring is essential for reliable water resource management and disaster resilience. This research advances Geotechnical Asset Management (GAM) using advanced Internet of Things (IoT)-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors installed onsite combined with periodic aerial LiDAR point-cloud data collection techniques. IoT-based IMU sensors will track multi-directional displacements, while accelerometers and vibration sensors will capture performance data under various conditions. An earth dam and highway embankment site in Jackson, Mississippi, and a Levee section owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will serve as test locations. A 3D geospatial model combining drone-mounted LiDAR will track structural stability and environmental impacts. Periodic assessments will detect instability, settlement, and deformation, enabling proactive maintenance to prevent failures and minimize disruptions. Enhanced monitoring will ensure reliable, connected, and risk-mitigated infrastructure to support national economic competitiveness. Collected data will be transmitted to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud for remote monitoring of the embankment, dam and levee system. In addition, the analytical tools in the cloud platform will be used to analyze the data and identify threshold points based on the performance criteria to create an early detection of failure under extreme conditions. This project will develop a data-driven, scalable solution to enhance safety, efficiency, and resilience in water management infrastructure while strengthening investments, thus enabling US economic strength and global competitiveness.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $82,500.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348331

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC)

  University of Arkansas
  4190 Bell Engineering Center
  Fayetteville, AR  United States  72701
• Performing Organizations:

  Jackson State University, Jackson

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Jackson, MS  United States  39217-0168
• Principal Investigators:

  Sadik, Khan

• Start Date: 20250601
• Expected Completion Date: 20260531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cloud computing; Dams; Data fusion; Disaster resilience; Embankments; Internet of things; Levees; Point clouds; Structural health monitoring
• Geographic Terms: Jackson (Mississippi)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01951188
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348331
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Apr 9 2025 6:28PM