Landslide victory

Rugged fibre optic sensors that will help detect landslides and accurately monitor soil movement under railway and bridge embankments are being developed by UK researchers.

A multi-disciplinary research team is hoping to produce highly sensitive arrays of sensors that will be able to detect the pressure of water in granular soil, but are tough enough to survive being buried in harsh environments.

As well as monitoring soil movement and pressure the sensors will provide information about its chemical makeup and stability.

Dr Stephen James of Cranfield University, who is leading the team comprising researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, said that the project’s aim is to develop a ‘multi-parameter’ sensing approach to soils.

‘Existing soil-monitoring technology can only provide data on one parameter at a time,’ said James. ‘If a borehole is dug into the soil and an inclinometer is put in, it can only measure the deformation of the soil. It doesn’t look at the pressure of water trapped within the soil, which is an important factor in soil stability. A complex interplay of physical properties determine the stability of soil.’