IoT-Based Structural Health Monitoring of Shoring Walls Using MEMS Wireless Inclinometers

This study presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system for the real-time monitoring of excavation-induced movements in shoring walls using a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based wireless inclinometer. Conventional inclination measurements were impractical due to restricted site accessibility, steep excavation slopes, rock-fall hazards, confined working spaces, and safety risks. To overcome these limitations, a custom-designed, ruggedised monitoring system integrated with a cloud-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed to enable continuous remote acquisition, visualisation, and analysis of inclination data. A 65-day field investigation was conducted on two shoring walls at a deep excavation site to evaluate the influence of construction activities and environmental conditions on wall stability. The monitoring system successfully captured inclination variations induced by drilling operations, physical shocks, and rainfall, demonstrating its capability to provide continuous assessment of structural behaviour under dynamic site conditions. The proposed IoT framework enabled early detection of abnormal wall movements and facilitated timely engineering intervention, thereby reducing operational risks and improving site safety. The developed system provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for real-time monitoring of temporary excavation support systems and offers significant potential for enhancing decision-making, risk mitigation, and predictive maintenance in geotechnical and structural engineering applications.