麻豆传媒社区

KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 18, 2025

A research team at 麻豆传媒社区 is building a low-cost, wireless system to help detect problems in aging dams before they become dangerous, offering a new way to protect communities and infrastructure.

The project is led by assistant professors of information technology Jian Zhang and Liang Zhao from KSU鈥檚 College of Computing and Software Engineering and professor of civil engineering Tien Yee from the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Together, they are designing a system that uses long-range wireless communication, solar-powered sensors, and real-time data to keep track of dam conditions every day.

鈥淢any of the dams in Georgia are more than 50 years old and don鈥檛 have proper monitoring in place,鈥� Zhang said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e usually only checked once a year, and a lot can go wrong in the time between inspections.鈥�

The team鈥檚 system includes small devices that measure tilting, movement, and vibration. It also uses cameras to capture visual changes. This information is sent wirelessly to a secure dashboard where dam operators can see what鈥檚 happening in real time. In addition, wireless sensors鈥攕uch as mmWave radar鈥攚ill be deployed to monitor water levels and support flood warning efforts, utilizing the same wireless communication network.  The system is designed to work in remote areas and is powered by solar panels, so it doesn鈥檛 need to be connected to the electric grid.

鈥淧roblems don鈥檛 wait for inspectors,鈥� Zhao said. 鈥淲ith this technology, we can monitor dams 24/7 and get alerts if something unusual happens.鈥�

The project is supported by RugGear USA LLC, a global company exploring innovative wireless technologies for use in extreme environments. RugGear partnered with KSU after seeing the system鈥檚 potential to improve public safety and support future commercial use.

鈥淥ur earlier work with RugGear opened the door for this new project,鈥� Zhang said. 鈥淭hey believe in the real-world value of what we鈥檙e building and want to see how it can be used to help more communities.鈥�

The team plans to test their prototype on a dam in Gwinnett County in this project. If the test goes well, RugGear may expand the project to other sites across Georgia and beyond.

One of the system鈥檚 key strengths is that it can work in areas where there鈥檚 no access to power or internet. Its wireless signals can reach up to seven miles, depending on the environment. This makes it a smart solution for rural or hard-to-reach locations.

鈥淚n Texas, we saw how recent floods caused major damage,鈥� Yee said. 鈥淎 system like this could help serve as an early warning, even in places without existing infrastructure.鈥�

Although the current project focuses on dams, the technology could also be adapted for other aging structures like bridges and overpasses. The researchers are already discussing ways to apply the same system to monitor transportation infrastructure across Georgia.

鈥淭he most important thing is that we want people to feel safe,鈥� Zhao said. 鈥淚f something鈥檚 wrong, there should be a system that can detect it and alert the right people before it turns into a disaster. We are working hard to make this a reality.鈥�

鈥� Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 麻豆传媒社区 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 麻豆传媒社区 is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 麻豆传媒社区 is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.