It’s a tough World out there, so this is how we test our sensors to ensure they are prepared for virtually anything! Watch the video and learn how we expose the sensors to changing temperatures, submerge them in water, high-pressure wash them (not that they need washing!), leave them outside for days, and stress-test them in every thinkable way.
Wish to learn more about our insanely well-tested sensors? Give us a call, send us an email or fill in the form to have us contact you.
While monitoring cracks in bridges, buildings, dams, piers, and other underwater structures or structures exposed to rough weather, presents significant challenges, it’s essential for ensuring safety, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability.
The Business benefits, are many, including risk mitigation, enhanced Asset Management, improved reputation, competitive advantage and regulatory compliance.
Learn more about our learnings and experiences with crack monitoring, right here: The importance of Crack Monitoring
You are always welcome to contact us if you have a project where you believe our sensors can be useful
IoT has become a bit of a buzzword today, but what does it really mean? Obviously, the definitions vary, but we found this definition which sums up pretty well what the basic understanding of IoT is: “The Internet of things (IoT) describes devices with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet or other communications networks.” The definition describes IoT as “devices with sensors”, which pretty much rules out our product (the DS sensor) because that is, in fact, a sensor! This explains why we typically describe our sensors as “IoT ready”, because that is exactly what they are.
Let us explain:
A DS sensor mounted on a bridge, a building a hillside, a stamping machine, a mining train, an excavator, a packaging machine, a tank, or whatever structure, machine, or application you can imagine, basically just detects movement through influence on the sensor itself. If the crack in the concrete on the bridge expands, it simply pulls the two ends of the sensor from each other, thus changing the data coming from the sensor. This data is typically transmitted directly to a sensor node or datalogger which then sends the data to the receiver. If this data is transmitted to the receiver through the internet, for example through a cloud solution, it becomes IoT. This is exactly what our sensors are built for and exactly what makes them IoT ready. Add to that the option of running the sensor on battery power, you can monitor on displacement or movement in remote locations, with no power supply, and pick up the data wherever you are.
All our DS Sensors are born IoT ready, and the battery solution is an add-on feature, also available for all DS sensors.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to know more or if you believe IoT-ready sensors can ad value to your application.
Thanks to our very close partnership with Smart Sensor Systems from Norway, we now have the opportunity to offer our customers the state-of-the-art data logger, iBridge.
iBridge loggers can be connected to most sensors, including our DS Sensors.
You can purchase iBridge data loggers and DS sensors in our web shop or you can contact us directly if you need us to tailor a quote to your specifications.
You can also, of course, contact Smart Sensor Systems directly.
Some years ago, LEAP Technology, which is now merged with ElastiSense Sensor Technology, was engaged in a very interesting and fun project with the European Space Agency (ESA), which ultimately resulted in stretch sensors being sent into space.
In short the purpose of the project was to monitor blood flow from the brain back to the heart. The sensors were worn on the neck and wrist of the Italian astronaut depicted here.
To this day, ElastiSense Sensor Technology products are still used in research projects in both ESA and NASA. We (im)patiently await the next time we get to go into space, hoping they will need some sensor experts to accompany the products on the long journey 🙂
Just like many other places around the World, Virginia has a lot of bridges in all shapes and forms. Most bridges in Virginia are the responsibility of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). This is also the case for the Rte. 638 Integral Bridge, which is the subject of as field study conducted by the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTCR). The relatively new bridge is situated in Alleghany County in Virginia and crosses over Jackson River.
The purpose of the field study is to analyze stresses and forces due to thermal effects, which corresponds perfectly with the general ongoing trends towards excessive monitoring of bridges.
DS Sensors from ElastiSense Sensor Technology are used in this field study to monitor longitudinal expansion and tilt/angel of the bridge, both in relation to shifting weather/temperature changes during a day, as well as with changing seasons. The sensors are placed on the bearings of the bridge in different angels and positions and continuously deliver data through a datalogger.
The DS sensors are just part of a bigger set-up including other sensor types and other equipment, which ultimately serves the purpose of teaching us more about the effects of different external influences on bridges.
Learn more about bridge monitoring right here or contact us if you have a bridge monitoring project and believe our sensors can make a difference to you.
The Servia High Bridge is one of the longest bridges in Greece, with a length of 1,372 m. Its construction lasted 3 years and was completed in 1975.
Following recommendations by experts, who were concerned about its stability raising the risk of a possible collapse, the local authorities decided to close down its operation in March 2023 to proceed with urgent restoration works.
The 47-year old bridge appeared to have cracks widening and it was the aim of the experts to monitor their behavior during and after strengthening works which were based on inspection and evaluation results carried out over the last three years.
For this purpose, our Greek partner NEOTEK supplied a wireless system comprising of six Elastisense Sensor Technology DS displacement sensors installed over major cracks, each connected to an analogue node. A central Gateway receives measurements from the nodes and these are available 24/7 over telemetry to the engineers monitoring the restoration progress.
This is just another example of how Neotek always find good solutions to complex problems. This is indeed an efficient, yet simple and easy way to monitor bridges and learn about the state they are in.
Contact us if you wish to know more about bridge monitoring or sensor technology.
Monemvasia is probably one of the most important medieval fortress-cities of Greece. It is also considered one of the most beautiful castles in the world and a very popular tourist attraction.
The castle stands proud on top of a high limestone cliff watching over the town below. Instability of the steep, rocky cliff face is well-documented and there have been both rockfalls, and significant undermining of the castle frontiers, posing a risk to the castle as well as to the town below.
A project co-financed by the District of Peloponnese and the European Regional Development Fund serves to stabilize the rocky slopes. Our partner NEOTEK was contracted to supply and supervise the installation of a network of sensors. The sensors collect measurements to monitor the behaviour of the cliff, preceding stabilization work by another contractor.
Learn more about DS Sensors, get your sensors right here: ElastiSense Sensor Technology Web Shop or contact us directly if want to know more.
