Port facility with quay wall and wireless structural health monitoring

Monitoring for port facilities and logistics structures.

Quay walls, sheet piling, crane runways and high-bay warehouses are heavily loaded and partly submerged. Wireless sensor technology captures corrosion, cracks, tilt and water level continuously, without cables and without interrupting operations.

Benefits for operators

Why operators monitor their port and logistics structures

Quay walls, crane runways and warehouse floors are heavily loaded and partly hard to reach. Continuous data creates safety, keeps operations running and extends the service life.

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Operation without interruption

Wireless sensors report changes during ongoing operation. Handling, crane movements and warehouse logistics continue, without elaborate manual inspection rounds.

Detect damage early

Corrosion, crack formation and settlement show up in the measurement data long before they become visible. That leaves time to react precisely and economically.

Measurable even underwater

Fully submersible crack sensors reliably capture cracks on hydraulic structures, even permanently underwater in quay walls and sheet piling.

Without cables and mains power

Cable- and energy-free sensor technology can be retrofitted even on hard-to-reach components, without cabling and without an external power supply.

Condition documented objectively

A seamless data basis documents the structure condition over time. That helps with maintenance, evidence and discussions with surveyors.

Remote monitoring via IoT

Readings are transmitted securely via NB-IoT. You keep the condition of your facilities in view remotely, around the clock.

Port structure cross-section Live demo
Warehouse
Tilt sensor Corrosion sensor Crack sensor (submersible) Water level sensor

Live monitoring

One structure, many measured variables

At a single quay wall, several sensors work together: tilt at the top, corrosion and moisture in the concrete, cracks right down below the waterline and the water level in front of it. All readings come together centrally.

Quay wall tilt

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Crack width

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Concrete moisture

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Water level

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Example values for illustration.

What we monitor

From hydraulic engineering to the warehouse hall

The matching sensor technology for every component, combined into continuous monitoring of the whole facility.

Monitoring a quay wall in a port with wireless corrosion and moisture sensors
Hydraulic structures

Quay walls & sheet piling

Salt water and changing water levels attack the fabric of quay walls and sheet piling. Corrosion and moisture sensors capture the condition in the concrete, while submersible crack sensors monitor cracks right down below the waterline.

Deformation and tilt sensor monitoring crane runways and traffic areas
Handling & cranes

Crane runways & traffic areas

Crane runways and heavily loaded handling areas react sensitively to settlement and deformation. Tilt and settlement sensors detect when the geometry changes, before operation is put at risk.

Tilt sensor monitoring hall floors and high-bay warehouses in logistics
Logistics & warehousing

Warehouses, logistics sites & high-bay warehouses

In logistics halls and high-bay warehouses, settlement in the floor and in the racking foundations leads to misalignment. Continuous tilt and settlement data secures stability and operational safety of the storage technology.

To the high-bay warehouses & intralogistics industry page

From practice

Reference: Quay wall in the Port of Rotterdam

An example of how wireless sensor technology makes the condition of critical port structures visible over time.

Two CorroDec 2G sensors, one with a red and one with a metallic housing, installed between reinforcement bars in the concrete
Port of Rotterdam

Quay wall monitoring with CorroDec 2G

To secure a quay wall in the Port of Rotterdam, corrosion and moisture sensors of the CorroDec 2G generation were used. They detect structural damage from corrosion and moisture at an early stage, so action can be taken in time.

  • Wireless and battery-free via RFID, retrofittable in existing structures
  • Antenna extension up to 50 metres depth possible
  • Quality-assured and tested by the Fraunhofer Institute
  • Complete remote monitoring via NB-IoT
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Monitoring for your port facility

Quay wall, sheet piling, crane runway or logistics site: tell us about the structure. We align sensor technology and the measurement concept with the on-site load.

Roman Koch Roman Koch

Data platform

All readings on one platform

The sensors transmit their readings wirelessly to the data platform, where they are evaluated, documented and continuously checked against your thresholds.

  • AI-assisted data analysis
  • User-focused reporting
  • Continuous evaluation
  • Warning and alarm thresholds
  • Alerts by email and text message
  • Remote access around the clock
More on monitoring & alerting
Monitoring platform Sample view
Reading history within limits
Warning threshold
  • AI-assisted data analysis Condition within limits
  • User-focused reporting Report ready
  • Alerting Thresholds monitored

Basis for decisions

What you can decide about the port facility

Quay walls and crane runways stand under constant load and in salt water. Decisions are usually made between handling capacity and structure preservation.

  1. 01

    Close a berth or keep it allocated

    The documented condition of the quay wall carries the decision of whether a berth stays in operation or is taken out of handling.

  2. 02

    Set load limits for handling equipment

    Deformation and tilt data show how the structure responds to actual stress. From this, limits for crane and vehicle loads can be derived.

  3. 03

    Schedule diver inspections precisely

    An underwater inspection is expensive and elaborate. Sensors in and on the structure show where it is worthwhile and where it can wait.

  4. 04

    Renew corrosion protection before damage occurs

    Moisture and corrosion readings in the concrete show the attack long before spalling becomes visible. That shifts the measure from repair to prevention.

  5. 05

    Refurbish during ongoing handling operations

    Whoever knows which section is critical plans the measure section by section and keeps operations running.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about ports & logistics

Can sensors also be used underwater?
Yes. For hydraulic structures we use fully submersible crack sensors that reliably capture cracks even permanently underwater. This way, quay walls and sheet piling can be monitored right down below the waterline. The sensors are cable- and energy-free and do not require an on-mains power supply.
Does the installation disrupt ongoing port or warehouse operations?
No. Because the sensor technology is wireless and works without mains power, elaborate cable runs are not needed. Installation can be scheduled around ongoing operations, so handling, crane movements and warehouse logistics can continue.
Which structures in ports and logistics can be monitored?
Typically quay walls and sheet piling, crane runways and traffic areas, as well as warehouses, logistics sites and high-bay warehouses. Depending on the component, we combine corrosion and moisture sensors, crack monitoring, tilt and settlement measurement, and water level monitoring.
How are we informed about critical readings?
All readings come together continuously and are transmitted via NB-IoT. When pre-defined thresholds are reached, the system automatically triggers an alert by email and SMS, around the clock and without manual on-site inspection.
Can the monitoring be retrofitted in existing structures?
Yes. The cable- and energy-free sensor technology is designed for retrofitting and can also be fitted to hard-to-reach or submerged components. No structural preparation or on-mains power connection is required.

Project inquiry

Secure your port and logistics structures

Tell us about the structure and the question at hand. You will receive a reliable initial assessment shortly, including suitable measured variables and sensor technology.

+49 6742 8599600 DE +41 41 670 00 11 CH info@infrasolute.com
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