A Trillion-Level IoT-Based New Capital Construction Market is Taking Shape in China

With China’s proposal of the concept of new capital construction, IoT will permeate national infrastructure construction deeper and wider. Bridges, as important transportation hubs, will also incorporate more IoT techniques. IoT already can be found in most bridges currently under construction. By implanting various sensors into a bridge and setting sink nodes/gateways and a real-time monitoring platform, data are transmitted into the platform layer through wireless transmission technology for storage, processing and analysis. Based on the analysis results, timely measures are taken to effectively improve bridge safety.

IoT technology endows originally static bridges with a “communication” function. The core of communication is IoT modules. A bridge’s forces and working state under various conditions, as well as its structural parameters such as wind resistance and earthquake resistance can be obtained in real time by installing different sensors, coupled with NB-IoT and 4G modules. With its wide coverage, multiple connections, low speed, low cost, low power consumption and excellent architecture, NB-IoT is promising in bridge construction. SIMCom NB-IoT module SIM7020G is used by customers in bridge displacement monitoring sensors to collect monitoring data and send to sink nodes. Data collection via modules effectively helps enterprises save manpower and material resources, while making data collection more efficient and accurate.

After being collected to sink nodes, mass data still need to be transmitted by 4G module SIM7600CE to the platform layer for storage, processing and analysis. Through data analysis, the staff can make judgments about a bridge's endurance and service life. For example, when a bridge's ultimate bearing capacity is seriously damaged; further measures such as repair or demolition can be taken in time. When the data obtained after data calculation and information processing exceed the pre-set threshold values, alarm messages will be generated and relevant personnel will be informed to carry out maintenance immediately.

Overload and special weather conditions can affect bridges. Unreasonable construction, natural disasters, wear and tear and other human activities may cause a bridge’s collapse. Only when we can monitor the condition of all bridges in real time and remove all hidden dangers in time, can our life be better!