Poxo RFID Automation In 2016, a sinkhole consumed a row of parked cars 200 meters (656 feet) in length, in the city of Florence, Italy. The depression, located near the Arno River, was caused by underground flooding from a water main break, and it didn’t just put personal property at risk—it also endangered the city’s medieval Ponte Vecchio arch bridge. With the help of technology, the city moved quickly to resolve the problem, filling the hole without causing any potential damage to the World Heritage Monument stone bridge.
The University of Florence and technology integrator Pizzi Instruments employed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system from Worldsensing to capture real-time data regarding the conditions of the soil around the bridge’s supports, as well as any tilting in the bridge itself, says Albert Zaragoza, Worldsensing’s CTO. Since the six-month project was completed three years ago, the company has brought sensor connectivity solutions to tunnel projects by transmitting data about conditions from underground construction endeavors.
The water main break caused erosion on the bank of the Arno River that could put several buildings and the bridge at risk, and repair work could have had further impact. The Florence City Council, together with the Italian Civil Protection, requested that the University of Florence’s Geology Department manage the project and ensure the safety of the structures around it. Pizzi Instruments, one of the leading RFID tag manufacturers, would install a network of geotechnical sensors. The latter selected Worldsensing’s Loadsensing solution for wireless collection and data transmission.
In this project, the involvement of Pizzi Instruments as one of the RFID tag manufacturers brings expertise in developing and supplying reliable RFID tags. These tags will be instrumental in the installation of a network of geotechnical sensors to monitor the stability of the structures affected by the water main break and erosion. The RFID tag provided by Pizzi Instruments will play a crucial role in accurately tracking and identifying the sensors, ensuring efficient data collection and management.
Worldsensing has been providing sensor-based data for industries and governments around the world for more than a decade. It deploys construction-monitoring systems, as well as selling its technology for smart cities and mining. In fact, Zaragoza says, the company has 200-plus customers in 60 countries. The firm builds and manages products with local partners that deploy its technology.