Laser-Powered Extensometer for Soil Displacement Monitoring

The Earth’s geological diversity exposes regions to various natural hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions, with soil displacement posing significant risks to infrastructure stability and agricultural productivity. Previous landslide monitoring systems encountered challenges such as data transmission stability and the vulnerability of power supply systems. In response, a soil displacement monitoring system is proposed, integrating extensometer sensors with advanced fiber optic communication technology and a laser-based power system. Extensometer sensors, known for their precise soil displacement measurements, face difficulties in long-distance data transmission, addressed by fiber optic communication offering higher bandwidth and extended transmission distances. The laser-based power system enhances system reliability and efficiency through fiber optics, ensuring uninterrupted operation even in remote locations. System accessibility is further facilitated with a Python-based graphical user interface (GUI) for real-time data visualization. The system’s performance is validated through comprehensive soil displacement simulations, supported by continuous monitoring using a rain simulator to observe potential displacements. This integrated approach, leveraging a robust laser-based power system and advanced communication technology, aims to enhance disaster management strategies in geologically active regions.