2024-08-02 16:45:56
How the Industry Can Build a Stronger Safety Defense
Published on July 19, 2024
1. Incident Background
A Wake-Up Call for Bridge and Tunnel Safety
According to official reports, on July 19, a major bridge on the expressway between Zhashui County and Shanyang County in Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province, collapsed following continuous heavy rainfall. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched, and as of July 21, 15 victims had been confirmed deceased.
Post-incident analysis revealed severe structural damage:
the superstructure of spans 8 and 9 collapsed, pier No. 8 was destroyed, and part of span 9 fractured near pier No. 9, with sections falling into the river while other portions were uplifted.
This tragic event once again highlights a critical reality: infrastructure safety cannot rely on periodic inspection alone. Continuous, real-time monitoring of bridge and tunnel structures is essential to prevent catastrophic failures.
2. Why Real-Time Bridge Monitoring Is Essential
Modern bridges operate under complex and continuously changing conditions. Key factors that must be monitored include:
- Structural environment and aging
- Vehicle loads and traffic density
- Bridge alignment and deformation
- Cable force in cable-stayed structures
- Tower settlement and displacement
- Main girder stress, vibration, and deflection
Timely and accurate awareness of these parameters under real operating conditions is crucial—not only for bridges, but also for tunnels and underground infrastructure, where risks are often less visible but equally dangerous.
3. Core Objectives of Bridge and Tunnel Monitoring
Bridge monitoring systems are designed to detect and manage common structural issues, including:
- Foundation defects
- Pier and abutment damage
- Superstructure deformation
- Deck deterioration
- Bridge approach settlement
- Freeze–thaw damage
Typical monitoring parameters include:
- Stress and strain
- Static and dynamic vibration
- Displacement and deformation
- Deflection
- Environmental factors
For tunnels, deformation monitoring plays an equally critical role. Comprehensive inspection and monitoring help identify defect type, location, severity, and development trends, providing reliable data to support structural reinforcement and rehabilitation decisions.
4. Limitations of Traditional Monitoring Methods
Historically, deformation monitoring has relied heavily on manual measurement, which suffers from several inherent limitations:
- Limited accuracy Sensor placement and quantity may be insufficient; measurements are vulnerable to environmental interference and processing errors.
- Incomplete data Key indicators may be missing, sampling rates are low, and long-term data accumulation is insufficient.
- Shallow data analysis Simple analysis methods fail to fully exploit collected data, reducing early-warning effectiveness.
As infrastructure systems become more complex, these traditional approaches are no longer adequate.
5. Advantages of Laser Distance Sensors in Structural Monitoring
The adoption of laser distance sensors significantly improves monitoring efficiency and accuracy. By continuously measuring displacement changes at key structural points, these sensors provide real-time insight into stress and deformation behavior, enabling early risk detection.
Key advantages include:
- Non-contact, real-time measurement
- High accuracy and repeatability
- Continuous long-term monitoring
- Improved early-warning capability
- Reduced dependence on manual inspection
Automated laser-based monitoring systems allow authorities to focus on critical safety indicators, issuing alerts before minor abnormalities escalate into serious incidents.
6. Extended Monitoring Scenarios Enabled by Laser Sensors
Laser distance sensors support a wide range of bridge and tunnel monitoring applications, including:
(1) Water Accumulation Monitoring
In low-lying areas or beneath bridges prone to flooding, laser sensors can be used to measure water level in real time. Data is displayed locally via LED panels and transmitted to management platforms, providing timely warnings for both authorities and the public.
(2) Environmental Condition Monitoring
Parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall can be monitored around bridges and inside tunnels. These data support structural safety analysis and traffic management, enabling smarter infrastructure operation.
7. Recommended Product for Bridge & Tunnel Deformation Monitoring
L2S-40 Potting Laser Distance Sensor
For tunnel and bridge deformation monitoring, MyAntenna RF L2S-40 potting laser distance sensor is specifically designed for harsh infrastructure environments.
Key Features
- Compact size, easy installation and maintenance
- Fully automated, high-efficiency operation
- Measurement accuracy: ±1 mm
- Stable power consumption with low energy usage
- Real-time online monitoring of deformation and convergence
- Wide operating voltage: DC 6–36 V
- Built-in overcurrent protection, reverse polarity protection, and surge/lightning protection
- IP67 protection rating for dust, moisture, and harsh environments
This model enables precise, non-contact, uninterrupted measurement, making it well suited for long-term deployment in tunnels, bridges, and large civil structures.
8. Building a Stronger Safety Defense
Infrastructure safety is a matter of public life and national responsibility. By combining advanced sensing technology, automated monitoring systems, and data-driven analysis, the industry can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic structural failures.
Laser distance sensors represent a key technological foundation for the next generation of intelligent bridge and tunnel monitoring systems, supporting safer, more resilient infrastructure networks.
About MyAntenna RF
MyAntenna Technology Co.,Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in laser distance sensors and antenna solutions, certified to ISO 9001 standards.
Our products are widely used in bridge monitoring, tunnel deformation measurement, building surveying, and infrastructure safety applications, delivering high accuracy and long-term reliability in demanding environments.
内链锚文本：
- laser distance sensor for bridge monitoring → L2S-40 产品页
- structural health monitoring → Application 分类页
- tunnel deformation monitoring → 行业解决方案页
- IP67 laser distance sensor → 产品筛选页
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