TotaLite: Structural Monitoring Device

Engineering

Electronic Engineering

Much of Europe's civil infrastructure, including bridges and tunnels, is over 50 years old, which poses structural risks. The TotaLite camera is a compact optical device that monitors movements in bridges, tunnels and buildings around the clock, measuring up to 25 surveying prisms at once from up to 70 meter away.

Collaboration Scope

Objective

To give surveyors continuous data on how a structure moves, prisms can be set up with a total station and TotaLite device. Once the total station is removed, the TotaLite keeps measuring. This setup allows surveyors to make informed decisions with continuous monitoring data that can save millions of euros and even lives.

"Vention has been a great partner on the connectivity side of TotaLite. From the early stages of generation 2 through to release, their team brought technical expertise and a practical, problem-solving mindset to the electronics and embedded software they developed for the connectivity. What we value most is how closely they work with our team — always engaged, always moving things forward together. We're proud of the product we've released, and grateful for the partnership that helped get us there."

Epco Berger

Managing Director

Challenge

Millimetre-level measurements from a small device with no moving parts.
Low enough power to run on a 4 to 6 Wh battery, with optional solar.
Reliable data from remote sites and underground.
Small, robust and cheap enough to leave on site without worrying about theft.

Solution

Built on Wockel®, with LTE connectivity, device management, security and data processing.
Switching between LTE and ethernet, so data keeps flowing in tunnels and low-signal areas.
Electronics designed around the diffractive optics and on-board accelerometer.
Close collaboration with the TotaLite team from prototype to production.

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Benefits

Installation in under an hour, guided by a mobile app.
Every prism in view measured at the same moment, every 5 minutes.
Up to 65% lower monitoring project cost and 70% fewer manhours, as on Branston Bridge with Terra Measurements.
In use on bridges and tunnels in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Learn more about the TotaLite structural monitoring system.