M2M for Structural (Bridge Buildings) Monitoring
The Minnesota Bridge collapse brings back to mind the question of why don’t we start using the available technology to monitor and extend the life of our aging bridges / assets. There are sensors and networks available that can monitor stress and load on buildings on a 24 / 7 basis. The real time data that is collected can be analyzed and monitored to detect variances and predict critical stress points and notify users of potential problems.
The challenge here is convincing the powers that be that this process if effective. As with any new technology / process there is a great deal of skepticism on how much of this is vapor ware versus reality. In my opinion there are not many companies that have the expertise to offer and end to end solution that solves this problem and therein lies the challenge. Users/ Customers are looking for experts who can walk in and provide an end to end solution that provides the value that is promised - as opposed to the piece meal approach of modules/ connectivity / analytics and applications.
One bridge saved / a few lives saved is all that is required to pay of the cost of getting this implemented.
Some companies that are making strides in structural monitoring
http://www.lifespantechnologies.com/