Wireless Sensor Network System for Landslide Monitoring and Warning

This paper presents a wireless sensor network system (WSNS) for effective, reliable, and efficient monitoring of landslides. The system incorporates a network of wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor devices for collecting movement data, a local base station for data gathering, a capture server for data processing and storage, and a warning system. The major contributions of this paper are: 1) two approaches for defining movement thresholds; 2) landslide classification concept based on IMU sensor data patterns and magnitudes; and 3) a conceptual framework for building an intelligent and reliable wireless monitoring and warning system. The IMU sensor data collected by three-axis accelerometer and three-axis gyroscope were utilized to define the movement thresholds and classify landslides based on specially designed laboratory experiments. The performances of the IMU sensors and the base station for data collection and communication were tested through a rock-fall experiment conducted in the field conditions. The WSN-IMU system is capable of monitoring all types of slope movements independent of the triggering factors. The unique ability of the WSN-IMU system to determine landslide types allows designers and authorized personnel to predict subsequent movement pattern and duration so as to implement appropriate risk management and control measures to alleviate the socioeconomic losses. This paper outcome serves as the foundation for future studies and technological advancements that will facilitate landslide stabilization or mitigation actions as well as to predict the intensity of damages associated with those landslides.