Wireless Sensor Networks in Civil Engineering: A Review

Abstract

This report reviews recent progress in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) for civil engineering, focusing on structural health monitoring, building energy management, and disaster response. By analyzing twelve key studies, it highlights critical advances in dependability, energy efficiency, and real-time data processing. Frameworks like Depend-SHM enhance fault-tolerant monitoring, while hybrid protocols such as HT-MAC prioritize urgent data in emergencies. Integration with IoT and edge computing improves interoperability and enables intelligent, decentralized analytics. However, challenges persist in security, standardization, scalability, and cost. Future development requires robust fault-tolerance algorithms, multi-sensor fusion, AI-enabled edge processing, and resilient hardware for harsh environments. WSNs are evolving from data collectors to proactive decision-support systems, essential for building smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure. Continued innovation is needed to overcome existing barriers and fully harness WSN potential in civil engineering applications.