SenseGate: Distributed and Reliable Monitoring for Flood-Protected Areas

Abstract

This paper reports about ongoing research for protecting critical infrastructure against floods. Aligned to a real use case in the Port of Hamburg, we present an approach for reliably monitoring floodgates. We analyze existing processes for safe floodgate operation and devise the design of SenseGate, a distributed monitoring system of increased resilience. We describe how the system integrates both autonomous sensors and technicians to digitize the polder status and to trace critical operations. Communication incorporates authenticated messaging and redundant communication links to improve the robustness of the system. Measurement challenges of reed switches and inductive sensors are discussed in the context of balancing energy consumption and accuracy. We propose designs for an energy neutral sensor, a companion device for field technicians, and a dashboard which reports cross-validated information to the overseeing operator. Finally, we systematically analyze how failure modes affect the SenseGate system and how impairments can be prevented.