ABSTRACT

Monitoring of coastal and inland waterways is an essential requirement for scientific understanding, conservation, and sustainable use of the water environment. This will make a clear impact on global sustainable development goals. This study aims to develop a suitable fiber-based smart sensory solution integrated into the geotextile for the damage assessment of inland waterway protection structures during extreme water levels. This study tests two fiber-based sensor systems (electrically conductive monofilaments and carbon rovings). These smart structures can function as a filter layer to monitor the seepage effect early on or prevent leakage into the core of structures since they can distinguish between dry and wet conditions.

INTRODUCTION

Shore protection spur dikes are essential constructions that are used to prevent erosion, manage sediment, and protect inland waterways and surrounding lands from the erosive pressures of flowing water. Due to climate change, there is an increase in the risk of extreme events like floods, storm surges and tsunamis worldwide (Belz et al., 2001; Mitchell et al., 2006; Kron, 2015; Esteban et al., 2017; Holden and Marshall, 2018). River and coastal dikes/dams are important to protect the banks and the nearby buildings against these extreme events. Monitoring the bank protection structures regularly and ensuring their stability are time-consuming and challenging processes, especially during such extreme events. For example, while the 2021 European floods were occurring, this was witnessed at several stretches along the Ahr Valley (Kreienkamp et al., 2021; Koks et al., 2021; Korswagen et al., 2022). Both the engineering and environmental aspects of waterway management should be considered in its design and execution. The design of spur dikes is critical in order for them to achieve their intended purposes, which include erosion control, sediment management, flood mitigation, and infrastructure protection. Properly constructed spur dikes not only achieve these goals but also limit negative environmental repercussions and increase public safety. The filter layer is one such critical component. This permeable layer resides between the core material and the outer armor (protective) layer, filtering out small particles and preventing core erosion (Heibaum, 2015). To secure the stability of dikes and dams, these structures can be outfitted with sensors that monitor water level rise and moisture sensing elements.

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