SBIR Phase I: The Development of a Cost-Effective LIDAR-Based System for Geo-Infrastructure Monitoring and Management

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目涉及开发一个系统，用于监测与美国基础设施相关的公路斜坡、水坝基础和其他土壤和岩石暴露的结构完整性。监控系统将集成最先进的3D成像硬件、3D点云处理软件和无线通信。该系统将基于具有成本效益的激光雷达（光探测和测距）传感器，以及激光雷达点云处理软件的开发。激光雷达传感器可以从远处对岩石和土壤进行连续的高分辨率3D监测。将开发全自动变化检测软件来精确定位不稳定区域，在不稳定发生之前，期间和之后提供地面运动的关键信息。无线通信允许持续报告和发出警告。该系统将具有成本效益，允许广泛使用该技术来监测美国的地质基础设施，以及在矿物和材料作业、建筑、危险废物设施和遗产遗址的其他潜在应用。有许多具有挑战性的方面将促进知识和理解。破译变化探测信息以确定地面运动，确定不稳定的前兆活动并发出警告，开发一个紧凑，具有成本效益的系统。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括与提高安全性相关的社会效益，包括工人的安全，以及使用和受基础设施影响的人的安全，如公路司机、铁路乘客和生活在水坝下面的人。拟议工作的结果是一种具有巨大商业潜力的可销售产品，并将被世界各地的政府机构和公司购买。自动实时处理现场点云数据以评估岩土地面不稳定性是一项具有许多竞争优势的创新。由于具有成本效益，商业产品将鼓励广泛使用现代监测技术。与之竞争的技术由于成本高昂，只能在采矿等特殊场所使用。提出的新技术在其他学科也有应用，包括采矿、土木建筑、制造业和林业。提出的监测系统正在收集有价值的岩土变形和破坏信息，这是世界各地大学非常感兴趣的。通过持续监测潜在的不稳定的岩石和土壤暴露，可能会有新的发现和见解。该系统未来还可以扩展到其他类型的传感器。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project involves the development of a system for monitoring the structural integrity of highway slopes, dam foundations, and other soil and rock exposures associated with the US infrastructure. The monitoring system will integrate state-of-the-art 3D imaging hardware, 3D point-cloud processing software and wireless communication. The system will be based around a cost-effective LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, as well as the development of LIDAR point-cloud processing software. The LIDAR sensor allows continuous high-resolution 3D monitoring of rock and soil exposures from a distance. Fully automated change-detection software will be developed to pinpoint unstable areas, providing critical information on ground movement before, during and after instabilitiesoccur. Wireless communication allows for continuous reporting and the issuing of warnings. The system will be cost-effective, allowing widespread use of the technology for monitoring the US geo-infrastructure, as well as other potential applications in mineral and material operations, construction, hazardous waste facilities and heritage sites. There are many challenging aspects that will advance knowledge and understanding ? deciphering change-detection information to determine ground movement, determining what is precursory activity to instabilities and issuing warnings, developing a compact, cost-effective system.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project include societal benefits related to increased safety, both the safety of workers, and the safety of those that use and are impacted by the infrastructure, such as highway drivers, rail passengers, and people living below dams. Theoutcome of the proposed work is a marketable product that has significant commercial potential and would be purchased by government agencies and companies worldwide. The automatic, realtime processing of point cloud data in the field to assess rock and soil ground instability is an innovation that has many competitive advantages. By being cost-effective, the commercialproduct would encourage the widespread use of modern monitoring technologies. Competing technologies, because of their high cost, are limited to special sites such as mining operations. The proposed new technology has applications in other disciplines, including mining, civil construction, manufacturing, and forestry. The proposed monitoring system is collecting valuableinformation on rock and soil deformation and failure that is of great interest to Universities worldwide. By continually monitoring potentially unstable rock and soil exposures, new discoveries and insights are likely to occur. The proposed system could be expanded in the future to include other kinds of sensors.