Infrastructure

Interface load cells, load pins, instrumentation, multi-axis sensors, and torque transducers are top choices for those engaged in infrastructure projects and testing. Sensors are commonly used in measuring the related hardware used for industry products and structures.

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construction, structure monitoring, load bearing, heavy equipment and other civil infrastructure applications

Infrastructure Overview

Interface load cells, load pins, instrumentation, multi-axis sensors, and torque transducers are top choices for those engaged in infrastructure projects and testing. Sensors commonly measure the hardware used for industry products and structures.

Interface has supplied measurement solutions for the types of infrastructure projects that include transportation systems, communication structures, water and electrical facilities, and numerous inventions used to build, support, and maintain them.

expert engineers

Our Interface expert engineers can help you design customizable force measurement solutions for all types of applications. Our engineers have designed products used for civil infrastructures such as structural monitoring, vibrational monitoring, load-bearing testing, tunnels, bridges, and road construction. The range of projects are broad, so we are highlighting a few below that highlight our capabilities when accuracy, quality, and reliability matter in design, testing, construction, and assessing current and limitations for safety requirements.

monitor seismic activity

Interface WTSLP Load Pin and our Wireless Telemetry Systems were used together to monitor the seismic activity for a bridge. The WTS-AM-1E Acquisition Module transmitted measurements to the WTS-BS-4 Industrial USB Base Station, which connected to the customer’s computer to monitor the seismic activity of the bridge during and after earthquakes.

rail cars in-motion

There was also an opportunity to collect data on moving rail cars when they entered a train station. A customer wanted to create their in-house setup using our products. Interface’s load cell Model 2450 was used and connected with the BSC4D-USB Multi-Channel Bridge to run diagnostic tests. Connected to the customer’s computer or laptop, this module was able to run a multiple number of diagnostic tests using our BlueDAQ Software.

monitoring water levels of dams

Our Wireless Telemetry System (WTS) has been applied to monitor the water levels of dams. Multiple WMC Stainless Sealed Load Cells were e anchored around the dam, connecting to multiple WTS-AM-1E Wireless Acquisition Modules. The forces of the water are measured, transmitted, and displayed to both the WTS-BS-1-HS Handheld Display for Single Transmitters and the WTS-BS-4 USB Industrial Base Station, which is connected to a PC or laptop. This solution allows for monitoring if any high flooding occurs for the dam in its control center.

Our custom solutions team will work alongside you to create the most effective and efficient solution based on your infrastructure project, hardware or product, and testing needs.

Smart Cities

Navigating the Path to Smarter, Greener Cities

Smart cities employ intelligent urban planning to create green spaces, promote environmentally friendly transportation options, and ensure resilience against environmental challenges. Many of the technologies used to plan, build and maintain these cities starts with machines, tools and resources that require accurate, quality measurement devices.

Sustainability stands as a fundamental pillar of smart cities. Our force measurement solutions are used in testing and producing renewable energy, harvesting food and providing mobility solutions to reduce carbon footprints.

Interface Sensors and Technology for Urban Transformation

Governments and companies worldwide recognize the importance of modernizing infrastructure, making substantial investments in this endeavor. Interface load cells, torque transducers, load pins, and tension links, are crucial components that contribute to safety, performance optimization, and efficiency enhancement. These wireless solutions find applications in various infrastructure projects globally, revolutionizing our interconnected world.

How Are Interface Sensor Technologies used in Smart City Applications?

Connectivity plays a pivotal role in the realm of smart cities and through sensor-enabled smart infrastructure solutions, real-time monitoring and control become possible. The results are efficiency improvements in traffic management, enhanced energy consumption, and optimized waste management systems. Interface offers a range of products that are utilized for building, managing and maintaining smart cities, from load cells to digital instruments.

Sensor technologies also play a significant role in developing smart infrastructure, including city design, buildings, grids, highways, and transportation systems. Companies, suppliers, and civil engineers in the infrastructure sector rely on Interface sensors to support their projects.

SmartInfrastructure_InfographicPoster

Construction

Interface sensor technologies and solutions find extensive usage in the global construction sector for monitoring and controlling the loads encountered during the construction projects. From bridges and dams to high-rise buildings and tunnels, measurement devices and instrumentation are utilized by civil engineers, heavy equipment manufacturers, material engineers, and test labs to accurately measure and test weight, force, and torque across a variety of use cases.

The massive global construction industry, estimated to be nearly $13T in spending, is broad and diverse in use of measurement solutions. From single building tools to heavy machines used to move concrete slabs, measurement is fundamental in construction design and use for projects, tools and heavy equipment.

Interface products for test and measurement in this diverse industry are used in:

Residential Construction
Commercial Construction
Infrastructure Construction
Industrial Construction
Civil Engineering Projects and Construction
Mining and Tunneling
Environmental Remediation
Specialty Projects
Heavy Equipment Manufacturing
Transportation and Vehicle OEMs
Cranes and Lifting Equipment

Interface load cells offer precise measurements of applied forces, furnishing essential data regarding the structural response under various load circumstances. This data plays a critical role in evaluating structural integrity, detecting potential vulnerabilities, and optimizing design to guarantee the safety and dependability of infrastructure.

Products we commonly supply to construction industry participants include:

Load Cells
Miniature Load Cells
Torque Transducers
Scales
Multi-Axis Sensors
Load Pins, Load Shackles and Tension Links
Instrumentation
Digital, Wireless and Bluetooth Solutions
Custom Solutions

Load cells also are commonly used in construction equipment including cranes, hoists, and lifts. By incorporating Interface’s load cells into these machines, construction operators can reliably ascertain the loads being lifted or moved, ensuring compliance with secure operational thresholds.

By providing real-time load data, Interface’s load cells enable engineers and construction industry players to make informed decisions regarding the structural design, material selection, and load capacity of different machines and equipment. Torque transducers assist in evaluating and monitoring static and rotary movements of objects like motors and tools. Instrumentation is used to gather the data from measurements, which can influence design and be used as embedded technologies to give real-time feedback in use, just as in cranes and lifts.

Safety is of the utmost importance in the construction sector. Severe failures in equipment can be dangerous to machine operators, and protection and safety for users can be used through the use of force sensor technologies with Interface’s precision load cells, torque transducers, load pins, tension links and load shackles.

Applications of Force Measurement Products Used in the Construction Industry:

Bridge Construction: Load cells are employed in bridge construction to monitor the loads experienced by different components such as piers, beams, and cables. They help ensure that the bridge can handle the anticipated weight and forces and provide valuable data for load testing and structural analysis. Bridges also use sensors to provide ongoing monitoring of environmental changes, as noted in our case study Monitoring Seismic Force of a Suspension Bridge.

High-Rise Building Construction: For structural support, load cells are used during the construction of tall buildings to measure the loads exerted on structural elements like columns, slabs, and foundation systems. They assist in evaluating the structural integrity, optimizing design, and determining load distribution for safe and stable construction.

Crane and Heavy Lifting Operations: Sensors, including load cells, are frequently integrated into cranes, hoists, and lifting equipment to accurately measure the loads being lifted. This enables operators to ensure that the weight being lifted is within safe operating limits, preventing overloading and potential accidents.

Foundation Load Testing: Utilized in foundation load testing, load cells help to assess the bearing capacity and settlement behavior of foundations. They help determine the maximum loads that can be supported by the foundation, ensuring its stability and preventing settlement-related issues.

Structural Monitoring: Structural and civil engineers use load cells for ongoing monitoring of loads in structures such as tunnels, dams, and retaining walls. They provide continuous data on the loads acting on these structures, helping engineers assess their performance, detect any excessive stress or deformations, and ensure their long-term safety.

Material Testing: The materials used in construction range from steel to wood, even fabricated materials like rubber and foam. Load cells are employed in material testing laboratories to measure the strength and mechanical properties of construction materials such as concrete, steel, and timber. They play a critical role in conducting compression, tension, and bending tests, providing accurate load measurements for material performance evaluation.

Construction Equipment Calibration: As with all critical sensors, load cells are needed to calibrate and verify the accuracy of construction equipment, including weighing scales, hydraulic systems, and lifting devices. This ensures that the equipment operates correctly and delivers precise load measurements during construction activities. Utilizing Interface calibration grade load cells and systems is highly recommended for this type of use.

Green Public Transportation

Interface Advances the Future of Green Public Transportation

Smart cities are the future of urban spaces, promoting sustainability and environmentally clean transportation. Producing renewable energy and implementing it in the public mobility sector can reduce our carbon footprint in the long run. The most common types of public transportation include buses, trains, metros, and ferries. Other less common types of public transit include trams, light rail, monorails, and cable cars.

Interface’s force sensors enable transportation systems to optimize energy efficiency, reduce wear and tear on critical components, and provide passengers with smoother, more comfortable rides by continually assessing the dynamic forces at play. Our advanced sensors, integrated seamlessly into various vehicle components, enable precise monitoring and adjustment of forces applied during acceleration, braking, and cornering.

Green public transportation continues to grow in various ways as technology advances. Cities are investing in electric buses and trams to reduce emissions compared to traditional buses. Hybrid vehicles and public bike and scooter-sharing programs in urban areas are growing. When it comes to creating green public transportation, integrating Interface’s force measurement products produces a safer, more efficient, and cleaner future for public transportation systems worldwide.

Our load cells are used to weigh buses and trains at stops and stations to ensure that the vehicles are not overloaded and track ridership trends. Measurement data can also be used to identify vehicles that need maintenance or repairs. Force measurement solutions provide valuable data in testing the strength of bridges and tunnels used by public vehicles. Monitoring the condition of railway tracks is vital to maintain operations and for the safety of the public. Load cells can identify areas of the track that are worn or damaged.

Interface Sensor Technologies Drive Public Transportation Modernization

Interface products are used in the research, design, and engineering of innovative public transportation solutions, including:

Electric Buses and Trams
Charging Station Sensors
Weigh Sensors for Public Transit Efficiency
Hybrid and Hydrogen Public Vehicles
Bike and Scooter Sharing
Subway and Light Rail Systems Expansion

Circular Economy

In recent years, the world has thought of different ways to reduce resource consumption by addressing environmental challenges. The circular economy is a model in which resources are recycled from waste into products. These resources are redesigned, reused, and remanufactured. This economic model aims to minimize waste, continuing to create a sustainable environment.

Within the circular economy, Interface’s force sensor products are used in different facilities and resource manufacturing processes. Our load cells and instrumentation are used to measure and monitor forces, loads, and weight within the tools and machinery used to optimize resources.

Circular Economy applications using Interface Force Sensors:

Waste Sorting and Recycling: Load cells are employed in waste sorting facilities and recycling centers to measure and monitor the weight of materials. This data helps optimize sorting processes, ensuring that recyclable materials are separated efficiently from non-recyclable waste. By accurately measuring the weight of recyclables, load cells assist in the recycling process, promoting resource recovery.

Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs): Load cells are utilized in MRFs to track the flow of materials through the recycling process. They measure the weight of materials at different stages, such as when materials are dumped onto conveyor belts or when they are compacted into bales for transport. This information is crucial for monitoring recycling rates and improving the overall efficiency of recycling operations.

Product Lifecycle Analysis: Load cells can track the weight of products and materials at various stages. This data is valuable for conducting product lifecycle assessments (LCA) to understand the environmental impact of products and identify opportunities for reusing or recycling components, thereby reducing waste and conserving resources.

Resource Optimization in Manufacturing: In manufacturing processes, load cells are used to ensure precise material usage and to control the number of raw materials used in production. This minimizes waste, helps maintain product quality, and reduces the environmental impact of manufacturing.

Waste-to-Energy and Biogas Production: Load cells are used in waste-to-energy facilities and biogas plants to measure the weight of waste materials and organic feedstocks. This data assists in optimizing energy production while diverting waste from landfills.

Food Waste Reduction: Load cells are employed in commercial kitchens, restaurants, and production facilities to measure food waste. This information can be used to track and reduce food waste, promoting more sustainable food management practices.

Closed-Loop Supply Chains: In closed-loop supply chains, where products are designed for reuse or remanufacturing, load cells can play a role in measuring the condition and wear of components, helping determine when maintenance, refurbishment, or remanufacturing is necessary, extending the product’s life.

Interface’s load cells assist in precisely measuring forces and loads during product disassembly, refurbishment, and remanufacturing. Integrating force sensors into ways to help reduce resource consumption helps create and promote a more sustainable environment.

Waste Management

Waste management is a complex industry, valued at more than $1.3T and growing, that deals with waste collection, transportation, disposal, and recycling. This industry must measure processes, machinery performance, and materials. Waste management heavily relies on Interface precision technologies for testing and measurement applications.

There are multiple steps to managing different types of waste, including municipal, industrial, and hazardous. Interface sensors provide precision measurement data on loads of waste collected to expedite processing and disposal.  

Waste management utilizes Interface sensors to provide routine data in real-time that provides accurate performance information for equipment, from garbage transport vehicles to waste and storage containers. Interface provides a broad line of solutions to the waste management industry, including:

Interface products enhance the performance of sorting systems, waste trucks, compactors, and waste bins. These ruggedized and high-performance sensors help weigh and monitor the waste, which benefits increased productivity, minimizing fuel costs, improving maintenance, and driving down operational costs.

Waste Management Applications Using Interface Measurement Solutions

Waste Load Monitoring
Compactors and Balers
Weighbridge Systems
Waste Weighing and Scales
Recycling Facilities
Automated Sorting Facilities
Landfill Equipment
Waste Transfer Stations
Conveyor Systems
Cranes and Heavy Lifting
Waste Trucks and Transportation Vehicles
Sensor-Based Waste Load Monitoring

Maintaining the proper use, production, and sanitation tasks related to storage, treatment, reuse, recycling, and disposal requires precise measurement. Interface provides quality sensor devices for accurate and reliable output that they can depend on for these practices.

Sensors improve safety, operations, and equipment performance across the waste management functions, from hazardous waste disposal to recycling treatments.

Water Management

Interface measurement solutions are versatile and reliable tools that can measure various forces, weights, and pressures across different types of infrastructure. In a world where water consumption is rising, and freshwater availability is increasingly limited, efficient water management is essential to maintaining long-term sustainability.

Force measurement is crucial in various aspects of water management, providing valuable insights and enabling efficient control over water systems. Load cells, torque transducers, wireless instrumentation, load pins, and multi-axis sensors are essential in water management applications, helping engineers ensure that various aquatic systems are safe and efficient.

Whether in irrigation systems for tracking water weight in distribution pipes or at water monitoring stations for measuring water levels in critical infrastructure, Interface’s sensor technologies and instrumentation are indispensable measurement devices for obtaining accurate data that informs decision-making and enhances the overall efficiency of water management processes.

Water Management Applications Using Interface Products:

Water Infrastructure and Automation
Flood Control and Dam Management
Water Treatment Plant Systems
Leak Detection and Prevention
Reservoir Release and Spillway Monitoring
Pump and Valve Optimization
Dam Structural Design and Monitoring
Pipe and Pipeline Flow Monitoring
Hydropower Generation and Flow Monitoring
Irrigation System Flow and Efficiency
Environmental Monitoring and Restoration
Research and Development
Waterways Public Safety and Risk Management
Hydroelectric Power Plant Systems

Interface load cells ensure reliability and safety in water management. In addition to environmental planning, public protection is key to successful water management. Real-time force data can trigger flood warnings and inform decisions about dam operations during high-water events. They can detect leaks or weaknesses early on, preventing costly damages and water losses by placing force sensors at strategic points that can detect even small leaks, leading to faster repairs and cost savings.

From measuring the forces of flowing water on turbine blades in hydroelectric power plants to evaluating the health of spillways, Interface’s force sensors provide highly accurate and reliable data that enhances the overall efficiency of different water management processes.

Interface’s force sensors and instrumentation are critical for measuring loads and providing real-time data to support structures within water management applications, such as spillway and reservoir monitoring. Real-time force data can trigger flood warnings and inform decisions about dam operations during high-water events.

Heavy Machinery

Heavy machinery refers to the critical infrastructure equipment used in construction, material handling, and large-scale engineering. Heavy machinery is fundamental to continuous global development. Whether it is a crane erecting a skyscraper, an excavator digging a foundation, or a tractor preparing a field, these massive machines must perform with absolute precision under extreme stress.

The Challenges of Heavy Machinery in the Field

Operating in high-stakes environments such as construction sites, mines, and offshore platforms poses unique challenges for force measurement. Sensors must be capable of measuring forces of hundreds of tons without compromising accuracy or structural safety. Equipment is routinely exposed to corrosive saltwater, abrasive dust, mud, and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Rapid movements and sudden impacts, like a bucket hitting a rock, require sensors with high fatigue life and fast response times. Inaccurate data on a crane or lift can lead to catastrophic failure, making reliability a non-negotiable requirement. Interface provides rugged, high-capacity measurement tools to monitor the demands and requirements of heavy machinery.

Heavy Machinery Applications

Hydraulic Cylinder Force Monitoring
Crane and Hoist Overload Protection
Structural Fatigue and Stress Testing
Excavator Bucket Breakout Force Measurement
Mining Truck Payload and Weight Monitoring
Drivetrain and Transmission Torque Analysis
Lifting and Rigging Tension Monitoring
Agricultural Draft and Tow-Bar Force Testing
Pile Driver and Foundation Equipment Testing
Material Handling and Forklift Capacity Verification

Interface Solutions for Heavy Equipment

Interface offers a diverse array of high-capacity, ruggedized hardware designed to withstand the harsh conditions of heavy industry. Our High Capacity Load Cells and Stainless Steel Load Cells provide the structural stiffness and environmental resistance necessary for massive compression and tension measurements, while specialized Load Pins, Shackles, and Tension Links allow for seamless force integration directly into lifting and rigging hardware. For rotational components, our Torque Transducers deliver precision power analysis of drivetrains and motors. Furthermore, our ATEX and Hazardous Locations Sensors ensure safety and reliability when operating in volatile environments where explosive dust or gases may be present.

Our Digital Instrumentation and Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems are often paired with Wireless Telemetry Systems to enable real-time monitoring of moving machinery without the risk of cable damage. By offering Complete Systems, Interface ensures that every sensor and instrument works in perfect harmony, providing a turn-key solution for validating the design, safety, and performance of infrastructure-related machinery.

Why Interface for Heavy Machinery in Infrastructure

Interface products are built with the same philosophy as the machinery they test. In these sectors that rely on heavy machinery, where failure is not an option, Interface is the trusted partner for the world’s leading equipment manufacturers, retrofitting engineers, and integrators.

Additional Resources

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Infrastructure Solutions from the IQ Blog

Interface Solutions Designed for Infrastructure Challenges

April 13, 2021/in Blog /by Brian Johnson

All infrastructure, big and small, needs to be designed with safety and durability in mind. Take for instance the massive amount of design, engineering and quality control that goes into a suspension bridge requires testing before and after it’s built. […]

Interface Crane Use Cases and Application Notes

March 9, 2021/in Blog /by Brian Johnson

Manufacturers and engineers of heavy equipment are rigorous about the design quality, performance and most importantly preserving safety. Having tools to test and monitor this type of equipment allows equipment producers and users to review performance at all stages, ultimately […]

Interface’s Sustaining Role in Arizona and the Global Business Ecosystem During COVID-19

March 27, 2020/in Blog /by Brian Johnson

For more than half a century, Interface has had the privilege of serving a wide variety of industries and helping our customers test, design, and manufacture products and infrastructure essential to everyday life. Our purpose at Interface defines our commitment […]

Seismic Application for Interface Load Pins

September 10, 2019/in Blog /by Brian Johnson

The range of applications of force measurement is wide-ranging across many industries. You can find Interface Mini Load Cells are frequently used to measure minute forces in precision medical devices, while our jumbo precision load cells that are rated for 2,000,000 […]

Industry Solutions

Product Applications

Interface Guides

Custom Solutions

Company Overview

Infrastructure

construction, structure monitoring, load bearing, heavy equipment and other civil infrastructure applications

Infrastructure Overview

expert engineers

monitor seismic activity

rail cars in-motion

monitoring water levels of dams

Smart Cities

Construction

Green Public Transportation

Circular Economy

Waste Management

Water Management

Heavy Machinery

Infrastructure Applications

Additional Resources

Infrastructure Solutions from the IQ Blog

Interface Solutions Designed for Infrastructure Challenges

Interface Crane Use Cases and Application Notes

Interface’s Sustaining Role in Arizona and the Global Business Ecosystem During COVID-19

Seismic Application for Interface Load Pins

Industry Solutions

Product Applications

Interface Guides

Custom Solutions

Company Overview

Infrastructure

construction, structure monitoring, load bearing, heavy equipment and other civil infrastructure applications

Infrastructure Overview

expert engineers

monitor seismic activity

rail cars in-motion

monitoring water levels of dams

Infrastructure Applications

Additional Resources

Infrastructure Solutions from the IQ Blog

Interface Products used in Infrastructure

1200 Standard Precision Universal LowProfile Load Cell

1100 Ultra Precision Universal LowProfile Load Cell

2400 Standard Stainless Steel Low Capacity Universal Load Cell

T2 Ultra Precision Shaft Style Rotary Torque Transducer

WMC Sealed Stainless Steel Miniature Load Cell

SSB Sealed Beam Load Cell

920i Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller

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