Design of Real-Time Slope Monitoring System Using Time-Domain Reflectometry With Wireless Sensor Network

Slope monitoring systems using a wireless sensor network is an efficient technique to track slope movements or failures. Instability in slope contributes greatly in hazards caused to lives and property in mining areas and operations. Electronic instrumentation such as wire-line extensometers, piezometers and total stations are used for sensing the slope stability. The available wireless monitoring systems such as slope stability radar (SSR), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and laser monitoring techniques are more expensive. In order to overcome this, the efficient and economically feasible measurement systems for slope monitoring are needed. This article presents the design, development, and field implementation of an online, cost-effective wireless system for real-time slope monitoring, which gives visible warning of a possible slope failure. The system is designed on the Arduino board as a platform with a radio frequency module (ZigBee) for a wireless communication. Additionally, using Python, the database and graphical user interface are implemented. The experimental field time-domain reflectometry data is also verified with the total station monitoring system.