Enhancing Operational Reliability in Slope Hazard Monitoring through an Interoperable Sensor System

Slope hazard monitoring systems constitute a fundamental component of slope early warning systems, supporting timely warning issuance and risk mitigation for unstable natural and engineered slopes. However, many operational monitoring networks rely on heterogeneous sensors and data loggers from multiple manufacturers, leading to compatibility issues that undermine long-term reliability and continuity of early warning monitoring. When components require replacement due to durability limitations or product discontinuation, entire monitoring systems are often replaced, resulting in high maintenance costs and prolonged monitoring interruptions that can compromise hazard detection and warning effectiveness.

This study presents an interoperable sensor system and integrated data acquisition device designed to enhance the reliability and sustainability of monitoring components within slope early warning systems. A nationwide survey of 200 slope monitoring sites managed by a Korean government agency identified 5,669 installed sensors and revealed strong dependence on a limited number of manufacturers. Based on these findings, system specifications were established to ensure broad compatibility with dominant commercial products and existing monitoring infrastructures, enabling long-term operation of early warning monitoring networks.

The developed data acquisition system supports multiple sensor types commonly used for slope hazard assessment, including displacement, inclination, rainfall, and groundwater level sensors, and integrates diverse communication protocols (LAN, LTE, Wi-Fi, and LoRa) for real-time data transmission. Key features include bidirectional sensor control with self-diagnostic functions, lightning and overvoltage protection, remote configuration, and intelligent fault detection, ensuring stable monitoring performance under hazardous environmental conditions. Smart compatible sensors were also developed to ensure interoperability, remote monitoring, and enhanced durability compared to conventional slope monitoring sensors.

System performance was verified through certified electromagnetic compatibility testing and field evaluations at laboratory-scale and operational slope monitoring sites. Results demonstrated stable operation, seamless compatibility with existing systems, and measurement performance comparable to commercial products.

By enabling flexible sensor replacement and reducing dependency on specific manufacturers, the proposed approach improves the operational reliability and continuity of monitoring components in slope early warning systems. This contributes to more robust warning chains, proactive hazard management, and disaster risk reduction through resilient and sustainable monitoring infrastructures (Project No. RS-2025-02263904, second year).