Wireless chemiluminescence-based sensor for soil deformation detection

A novel sensing application based on chemiluminescence was designed and tested in the laboratory for deformation monitoring in soil. The device, containing the reactants stored in separate chambers, on activation when deformed under load, result in an almost instantaneous production of light which could be readily detected using low-cost optoelectronics. The attractiveness of this concept for deformation monitoring is that the chemiluminescence sensor is completely passive, requiring no power for it to function. In this paper, the effort was focused on demonstrating the sensing capability of the chemiluminescence-based device for detecting soil deformation or movement in the event of a landslide. Laboratory experiments were conducted to demonstrate the proof-of-concept through a prototype of the device fabricated specifically for this study. Wireless transmission capability was also incorporated into the prototype design in view of the potential deployment in the field.