Continuous monitoring of bridges, quay walls and buildings with SmartBrick
Monitor the condition of civil infrastructure with SmartBrick, Althen's wireless structural monitoring solution. By continuously measuring inclination and tracking changes over time, infrastructure owners can identify unusual movements, assess structural behaviour and make better-informed maintenance decisions. From sensor installation and wireless communication to data analysis and dashboards, Althen provides an integrated solution for monitoring bridges, quay walls, buildings and other civil structures.
Bridges, quay walls, buildings and foundations are exposed to changing loads, environmental conditions and gradual deterioration. Over time, these influences can cause movement or deformation that may require further investigation.
Periodic inspections provide valuable information, but they only show the condition of a structure at a particular moment. Changes between inspections can remain unnoticed.
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) adds continuous measurement data to traditional inspection methods. By tracking inclination and analysing trends over time, infrastructure owners gain a better understanding of how structures behave under changing conditions.
This information supports the early identification of unusual movements, more targeted inspections and better maintenance planning.
Historic quay walls are exposed to soil pressure, water level variations, traffic loads and changing environmental conditions.
SmartBrick measures inclination over time, helping infrastructure managers identify changes in wall movement and assess trends.
Continuous monitoring provides additional information for evaluating the condition of quay walls and prioritising further inspections.
Bridges experience changing loads, temperature variations and gradual ageing. In some structures, these influences can lead to changes in inclination or position.
SmartBrick provides wireless inclination measurements that help infrastructure managers follow structural behaviour over time.
The data supports condition assessments and maintenance planning, particularly for historic bridges and structures where frequent physical inspections can be difficult.
Changes in ground conditions, nearby construction activities and structural loads can affect the movement of buildings and foundations.
Inclination monitoring can help identify gradual changes in the position of structural elements.
SmartBrick provides long-term measurement data that can be used alongside inspections and other engineering assessments to better understand structural behaviour.
SmartBrick is one of the most promising SBIR innovations and helps us monitor bridges and quay walls in a smarter, more efficient, and more effective way.
SmartBrick is designed for applications where long-term measurement stability, reliable communication and straightforward installation are important.
SmartBricks are installed at selected measurement locations on the structure. They record inclination measurements at configured intervals, providing information about changes in structural position over time.
The sensor transmits measurement data using LTE-M or NB-IoT communication. This reduces the need for local communication cabling and enables remote monitoring of geographically distributed structures.
Measurement data is stored and processed to identify trends and changes over time. Historical measurements help users distinguish between normal variations and developments that may require closer examination.
Monitoring data is presented in an online dashboard. Users can review current measurements, examine historical trends and compare information from different sensors or locations.
Where configured, alerts can notify users when measurements exceed predefined thresholds. These notifications help infrastructure managers identify situations that may require inspection or further technical assessment.
Every structure and monitoring challenge is different. Although SmartBrick provides a proven solution for long-term inclination monitoring, some applications require additional measurement parameters.
Althen Sensors & Controls offers a broad portfolio of sensor technologies that can support more extensive structural monitoring projects.
Measure vibration and dynamic acceleration in bridges, buildings and other structures. Accelerometers can help engineers investigate dynamic behaviour and structural response to traffic, machinery or environmental influences.
Measure linear movement and displacement in structural components. These sensors can support the monitoring of joints, structural movement and changes in relative position.
Whether you need a standalone inclination monitoring solution or a more extensive measurement system, Althen can help identify suitable sensor technologies for your application.
Are you responsible for maintaining bridges, quay walls, buildings or other civil infrastructure?
Whether you want to monitor an individual structure or develop a monitoring network across multiple locations, our specialists can help you determine the right measurement approach.
From sensor selection and installation to data communication and monitoring dashboards, Althen combines sensor expertise with practical application knowledge.
Whether you're monitoring a bridge, quay wall or building, our specialists can help you select the right monitoring solution for your infrastructure.