Bridge Scour Monitoring
and 
This study is aimed at developing a pragmatic but highly innovative, cost-effective, real-time bridge scour management system using passive/active smart rocks for integrated monitoring and mitigation of foundation scour. Active smart rocks with embedded electronics can be connected to a remote station with wireless magneto-inductive and acoustic communication systems. Both smart rocks and communication systems will be developed and validated in laboratory and field conditions. As spatially-distributed field agents, smart rocks can be deployed around a bridge to register both temporal and spatial information of scour process and transmit critical data for an engineering evaluation of foundation scour in real time (depth and area) on a Geographic Information System platform. Scour vulnerability of multiple bridges affected by a flood event can then be reported anytime to engineer-in-charge and first responders through a cellular network as needed.
Sponsored by the U.S., California, and Missouri Departments of Transportation, Missouri University of Science and Technology will directly and cost-effectively address the #1 cause (scour) for over 1,500 bridge collapses in the US history. The remote sensing technology with smart rocks is directly transferable to other infrastructure installations such as river banks, dams and levees for their erosion monitoring and mitigation as well as slope stability both during flood events and in normal operations.
This project consists of two phases. Phase 1 provides a proof of concept study for both active and passive smart rock technologies, while phase 2 is focused on the implementation of passive smart rock technology.
| Item No. | Task No. (per proposal) | Activity/Deliverable | Quarter No. | Expected Completion Date/Month | Payable Milestone Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions DC magnetic sensors with embedded steel in Dodecahedron shape or magnets aligned with the earth gravity field. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of passive smart sensors. | 1 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of DC magnetic passive smart rocks submitted |
| 2 | 2.2(a) | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive transponders. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of transponders. | 1 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive transponders submitted |
| 3 | 2.2(b) | Research, summarize, and document current underwater acoustic transmission practices and required modifications for bridge scour monitoring. | 1 | 12 months | Engineering evaluation of acoustic communication systems for bridge scour monitoring submitted |
| 4 | 4.0 | Submit first Quarterly Status Report | 1 | 3 months | First quarterly report submitted |
| 5 | 1.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions DC magnetic sensors with embedded steel in Dodecahedron shape or magnets aligned with the earth gravity field. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of passive smart sensors. | 2 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of DC magnetic passive smart rocks submitted |
| 6 | 2.2(a) | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive transponders. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of transponders. | 2 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive transponders submitted |
| 7 | 2.2(b) | Research, summarize, and document current underwater acoustic transmission practices and required modifications for bridge scour monitoring. | 2 | 12 months | Engineering evaluation of acoustic communication systems for bridge scour monitoring submitted |
| 8 | 4.0 | Submit second Quarterly Status Report | 2 | 6 months | Second quarterly report submitted |
| 9 | 1.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions DC magnetic sensors with embedded steel in Dodecahedron shape or magnets aligned with the earth gravity field. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of passive smart sensors. | 3 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of DC magnetic passive smart rocks submitted |
| 10 | 1.2 | Research, summarize, and document the degree of potential steel interferences to magnetic measurements. Investigate ways to compensate the interference effect and develop a rock localization technique. | 3 | 24 months | Noise level, data cleansing and engineering interpretation with passive rocks submitted |
| 11 | 2.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions active smart rocks with embedded controllable magnets or with embedded electronics. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of active smart rocks. | 3 | 18 months | Engineering design and validation of active smart rocks submitted |
| 12 | 2.2(a) | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive transponders. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of transponders. | 3 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive transponders submitted |
| 13 | 2.2(b) | Research, summarize, and document current underwater acoustic transmission practices and required modifications for bridge scour monitoring. | 3 | 12 months | Engineering evaluation of acoustic communication systems for bridge scour monitoring submitted |
| 14 | 3.2 | Plan and execute the field validation tasks of various prototypes. Analyze the field performance of smart rocks and communication systems. | 3 | 24 months | Field test plan and data analysis submitted |
| 15 | 4.0 | Submit third Quarterly Status Report | 3 | 9 months | Third quarterly report submitted |
| 16 | 1.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions DC magnetic sensors with embedded steel in Dodecahedron shape or magnets aligned with the earth gravity field. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of passive smart sensors. | 4 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of DC magnetic passive smart rocks submitted |
| 17 | 1.2 | Research, summarize, and document the degree of potential steel interferences to magnetic measurements. Investigate ways to compensate the interference effect and develop a rock localization technique. | 4 | 24 months | Noise level, data cleansing and engineering interpretation with passive rocks submitted. |
| 18 | 2.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions active smart rocks with embedded controllable magnets or with embedded electronics. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of active smart rocks. | 4 | 18 months | Engineering design and validation of active smart rocks submitted. |
| 19 | 2.2(a) | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive transponders. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of transponders. | 4 | 12 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive transponders submitted |
| 20 | 2.2(b) | Research, summarize, and document current underwater acoustic transmission practices and required modifications for bridge scour monitoring. | 4 | 12 months | Engineering evaluation of acoustic communication systems for bridge scour monitoring submitted |
| 21 | 3.2 | Plan and execute the field validation tasks of various prototypes. Analyze the field performance of smart rocks and communication systems. | 4 | 24 months | Field test plan and data analysis submitted |
| 22 | 4.0 | Submit fourth Quarterly Status Report | 4 | 12 months | Fourth quarterly report submitted. |
| 23 | 1.2 | Research, summarize, and document the degree of potential steel interferences to magnetic measurements. Investigate ways to compensate the interference effect and develop a rock localization technique. | 5 | 24 months | Noise level, data cleansing and engineering interpretation with passive rocks submitted |
| 24 | 2.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions active smart rocks with embedded controllable magnets or with embedded electronics. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of active smart rocks. | 5 | 18 months | Engineering design and validation of active smart rocks submitted. |
| 25 | 2.2(c) | Summarize and document the comparative merits of magneto-inductive and acoustic transmission systems and the potential for integrated communication systems for efficient bridge scour monitoring. | 5 | 24 months | Performance comparison and integration of two transmission systems submitted. |
| 26 | 2.3(a) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 5 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive communication protocols submitted. |
| 27 | 2.3(b) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions acoustic communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 5 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of acoustic communication. |
| 28 | 3.1 | Fuse the measured data from passive and active smart rocks to extract mission-critical data for scour monitoring. Develop and validate with the critical data a mechanics-based reconstruction model of bridge scour. | 5 | 24 months | Data fusion and rock movement prediction submitted. |
| 29 | 4.0 | Submit fifth Quarterly Status Report | 5 | 15 months | Fifth quarterly report submitted. |
| 30 | 1.2 | Research, summarize, and document the degree of potential steel interferences to magnetic measurements. Investigate ways to compensate the interference effect and develop a rock localization technique. | 6 | 24 months | Noise level, data cleansing and engineering interpretation with passive rocks submitted. |
| 31 | 2.1 | Design, fabricate, and test in laboratory and field conditions active smart rocks with embedded controllable magnets or with embedded electronics. Summarize and document the test results and the performance of active smart rocks. | 6 | 18 months | Engineering design and validation of active smart rocks submitted. |
| 32 | 2.2(c) | Summarize and document the comparative merits of magneto-inductive and acoustic transmission systems and the potential for integrated communication systems for efficient bridge scour monitoring. | 6 | 24 months | Performance comparison and integration of two transmission systems submitted. |
| 33 | 2.3(a) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 6 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive communication protocols submitted. |
| 34 | 2.3(b) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions acoustic communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 6 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of acoustic communication. |
| 35 | 3.1 | Fuse the measured data from passive and active smart rocks to extract mission-critical data for scour monitoring. | 6 | 24 months | Data fusion and scour depth evaluation submitted |
| 36 | 4.0 | Submit sixth Quarterly Status Report | 6 | 18 months | Sixth quarterly report submitted. |
| 37 | 1.2 | Research, summarize, and document the degree of potential steel interferences to magnetic measurements. Investigate ways to compensate the interference effect and develop a rock localization technique. | 7 | 24 months | Noise level, data cleansing and engineering interpretation with passive rocks submitted. |
| 38 | 2.2(c) | Summarize and document the comparative merits of magneto-inductive and acoustic transmission systems and the potential for integrated communication systems for efficient bridge scour monitoring. | 7 | 24 months | Performance comparison and integration of two transmission systems submitted. |
| 39 | 2.3(a) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 7 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive communication protocols submitted. |
| 40 | 2.3(b) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions acoustic communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 7 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of acoustic communication protocols submitted. |
| 41 | 3.1 | Fuse the measured data from passive and active smart rocks to extract mission-critical data for scour monitoring. | 7 | 24 months | Data fusion and scour depth evaluation submitted. |
| 42 | 3.2 | Plan and execute the field validation tasks of various prototypes. Analyze the field performance of smart rocks and communication systems. | 7 | 24 months | Field test plan and data analysis submitted. |
| 43 | 4.0 | Submit seventh Quarterly Status Report. | 7 | 21 months | Seventh quarterly report submitted. |
| 44 | 1.2 | Research, summarize, and document the degree of potential steel interferences to magnetic measurements. Investigate ways to compensate the interference effect and develop a rock localization technique. | 8 | 24 months | Noise level, data cleansing and engineering interpretation with passive rocks submitted. |
| 45 | 2.2(c) | Research, summarize, and document current in-field welding and coating practices. | 8 | 24 months | Performance comparison and integration of two transmission systems submitted. |
| 46 | 2.3(a) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions magneto-inductive communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 8 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of magneto-inductive communication protocols submitted. |
| 47 | 2.3(b) | Build and test in laboratory and field conditions acoustic communication protocols. Summarize and document their performance and test results. | 8 | 24 months | Engineering design and validation of acoustic communication protocols submitted. |
| 48 | 3.1 | Fuse the measured data from passive and active smart rocks to extract mission-critical data for scour monitoring. | 8 | 24 months | Data fusion and scour depth evaluation submitted. |
| 49 | 3.2 | Plan and execute the field validation tasks of various prototypes. Analyze the field performance of smart rocks and communication systems. | 8 | 24 months | Field test plan and data analysis submitted. |
| 50 | 4.0 | Submit eighth Quarterly Status Report | 8 | 24 months | Eighth quarterly status report submitted. |
| Item No. | Task No. (per proposal) | Activity/Deliverable | Quarter No. | Expected Completion Date/Month | Payable Milestone Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.1 | Motion of Smart Rocks under Various Flow Conditions | 1 | 6 months | Critical flow conditions summarized for various cases |
| 2 | 1.2 | Design Guidelines of Smart Rocks | 1 | 12 months | Draft design guidelines completed & sent out for review |
| 3 | 2.1 | Final Design of Smart Rocks | 1 | 12 months | CAD drawings completed |
| 4 | 2.2 | Prototyping of Passive, Active, and Hybrid Smart Rocks | 1 | 6 months | Concrete encasement cast |
| 5 | 2.3 | Deployment of Smart Rocks | 1 | 6 months | Smart rocks delivered and deployed in the river |
| 6 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 1 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 7 | 1.1 | Motion of Smart Rocks under Various Flow Conditions | 2 | 6 months | Critical flow conditions summarized for various cases |
| 8 | 1.2 | Design Guidelines of Smart Rocks | 2 | 12 months | Draft design guidelines completed & sent out for review |
| 9 | 2.1 | Final Design of Smart Rocks | 2 | 12 months | CAD drawings completed |
| 10 | 2.2 | Prototyping of Passive, Active, and Hybrid Smart Rocks | 2 | 6 months | Concrete encasement cast |
| 11 | 2.3 | Deployment of Smart Rocks | 2 | 6 months | Smart rocks delivered and deployed in the river |
| 12 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 2 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 13 | 1.2 | Motion of Smart Rocks under Various Flow Conditions | 3 | 6 months | Critical flow conditions summarized for various cases |
| 14 | 2.1 | Final Design of Smart Rocks | 3 | 12 months | CAD drawings completed |
| 15 | 3.1 | Time- and Event-based Field Measurements | 3 | 18 months | Field tests completed & reported |
| 16 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 3 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 17 | 1.2 | Motion of Smart Rocks under Various Flow Conditions | 4 | 6 months | Critical flow conditions summarized for various cases |
| 18 | 2.1 | Final Design of Smart Rocks | 4 | 12 months | CAD drawings completed |
| 19 | 3.1 | Time- and Event-based Field Measurements | 4 | 18 months | Field tests completed & reported |
| 20 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 4 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 21 | 3.1 | Time- and Event-based Field Measurements | 5 | 18 months | Field tests completed & reported |
| 22 | 3.2 | Visualization Tools of Rock Location Mapping over Time | 5 | 12 months | Software completed & tested |
| 23 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 5 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 24 | 3.1 | Time- and Event-based Field Measurements | 6 | 18 months | Field tests completed & reported |
| 25 | 3.2 | Visualization Tools of Rock Location Mapping over Time | 6 | 12 months | Software completed & tested |
| 26 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 6 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 27 | 3.1 | Time- and Event-based Field Measurements | 7 | 18 months | Field tests completed & reported |
| 28 | 3.2 | Visualization Tools of Rock Location Mapping over Time | 7 | 12 months | Software completed & tested |
| 29 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 7 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
| 30 | 3.1 | Time- and Event-based Field Measurements | 8 | 18 months | Field tests completed & reported |
| 31 | 3.2 | Visualization Tools of Rock Location Mapping over Time | 8 | 12 months | Software completed & tested |
| 32 | 4 | Technology Transfer, Report and Travel Requirements | 8 | 24 months | Quarterly report submitted, travel completed, or meeting conducted |
