Re.T.I.M. measures the deformations of the structural elements installed along the transport networks through a continuous and automatic remote monitoring system. It is suitable for controlling the stability over time of all those structural elements constantly subjected to the effects of cyclic loads, due to the action of wind, traffic and normal deck oscillations.
The Re.T.I.M. system, consisting of an inclinometric apparatus and fixed to the structural element to be monitored, is designed for high barriers – such as noise barriers, integrated noise / safety barriers and windbreak barriers – installed and/or anchored on works of art, for portals, for lighting poles, for vertical signs etc.
It is self-powered, georeferenced and small in size, with a gateway – WiFi Sensor Hub which transmits, in real time, to a central control system, the values of the movements at regular intervals established according to the expected monitoring. The measurements of these movements, related to weather and traffic data, are recorded, archived and processed.
The evaluation levels of the structure safety conditions
The evaluation levels of the structure safety conditions may be organized into three different levels:
Level 1 – Admissible – No alarm: this level includes the percentage variation of the inclination, compared to the reference value, measured in a short time interval and with a low frequency. In this condition, no specific extraordinary intervention is required, while normal routine maintenance operations remain active.
Level 2 – Attention – Attention alarm: the percentage variation of the inclination falls within Level 2 when, with respect to the reference value, it is greater than Level 1, both in terms of measured values, interval and frequency. Under these conditions, a timely control intervention and the activation of a specific extraordinary maintenance are necessary.
Level 3 – Danger – Danger alarm: the percentage variation of the inclination, with respect to the reference values, exceeds the threshold of the maximum permitted value – regardless of the measured interval and the frequency – falls within Level 3. In this case, an immediate maintenance intervention is necessary to prevent and eliminate any potential dangerous situations for road users, and the alert may even lead to traffic limitations and/or blocks.
Piattaforma web dedicata
The platform allows the collection and querying of the data received from each individual inclinometer in real time, through a cloud environment, in order to manage any alarm signals and any interventions in a simplified and rapid way.
For road safety barriers, the Re.T.I.M. is based on the use of accelerometer sensors, geolocated and self-powered, connected to each other and to a master node on site via a wireless network.
The sensors are able to continuously and in real time measure the deformations of the barriers due to the loss of tightness of the anchors, the loosening of the bolts or the lesions of the welds.
Advantages of Re.T.I.M. System
Real-time remote assessment and control
of the effects of cyclic dynamic loads on parts of the installations, along road and rail networks, and in particular:
- Loosening of the tightening torque of the anchor bolts connecting the barrier to the curb;
- Loss of consistency of the resin and removal of the backing pad from the resin cylinder;
- Loss of consistency of the resin and slipping off from the curb concrete;
- Micro-slits or detachment of the welds on the base plates or the reinforcements of the struts;
- Breakage of the concrete curb at the strut.
Ease of installation
- A single sensor for each homogeneous section with no need to dismantle
- the monitored structure;
- No interference with the structure operations;
- No modification on the product or on the CE mark.
Absence of maintenance and control costs
The Re.T.I.M. System does not require any maintenance; it is equipped with a self-diagnosis apparatus which highlights any usage anomaly.
Eco-sustainable system
Low energy consumption and a self-powered device through energy harvesting (solar panel).
Fast and accurate information
Data are collected from individual sensors in real-time, at regular intervals, and recorded within the cloud platform. A graph shows the values from the inclination and its evolution over time, allowing real-time and continuous knowledge of the conditions at the basis of structural elements. It provides warning or danger signals if any predefined threshold value is exceeded.
Easy-to-use web interface
All data collected by the individual sensors can be accessed in real-time, recorded and compared through a web service platform, also available on smartphones.
Customizable alert system
If the maximum allowed shifts are exceeded, the system automatically sends real-time alerts. The values of the ranges and therefore the alerts may be defined and fixed, according to the customer’s needs, via the web interface.