Remote Condition Assessment of Geotechnical Assets Using a New Low-power ERT Monitoring System

The development of a new low-cost, low-power, electrical resistivity tomography system (PRIME - Proactive Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation) is described. PRIME is designed to provide continuous near-real-time information on the internal condition of the earthworks, helping to predict failures and enable timely intervention. Conventional asset monitoring involves examining the surface (either by people on the ground or from aerial photos) and using point sensors, such as moisture content and tilt meters, which only give information in the immediate vicinity of the sensor. But PRIME uses imaging for the volumetric tracking of moisture content changes and the detection of ground movement, thereby identifying problems at a much earlier stage. An example of the deployment of PRIME to monitor a leaking canal embankment is also provided.