The RUT906 industrial router for civil engineering connectivity

Highlights 

✔ Civil engineering projects require continuous, reliable monitoring to detect early signs of structural instability and prevent costly failures, yet traditional methods often fall short in remote or harsh environments. 

✔ SAS Soletanche Freyssinet developed a portable, self-sufficient monitoring and control unit capable of capturing and transmitting real-time data from strain gauges, displacement transducers, and vibration sensors – even in isolated locations. 

✔  Teltonika’s RUT906 LTE router industrial router provides stable and secure IoT connectivity with Dual SIM, failover, industrial IoT protocol support. RS232 port enables direct sensor communication and legacy device integration, as well as seamless integration with the Remote Management System (RMS). 

The challenge – maintaining continuous monitoring in remote environments 

The global civil engineering market is projected to reach USD 14.14 tn by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% from 2025. This expansion underscores the growing importance of real-time structural health monitoring to safeguard assets and prevent costly failures. 

From bridges and tunnels to retaining walls and embankments, infrastructure assets are constantly subjected to stresses from weather, traffic, and ground vibration. Even minor shifts in displacement or tilt can indicate emerging instability. Without continuous and reliable data, however, these early warning signs often remain unnoticed until serious damage occurs. 

Traditional monitoring methods still depend on manual measurements or intermittent connections that are easily disrupted by distance, interference, or harsh environmental conditions. As a result, engineers struggle to maintain visibility across large or remote sites, especially where access is limited or power supply is unreliable. 

To overcome these challenges, SAS Soletanche Freyssinet, a global leader in infrastructure monitoring, developed a portable, self-sufficient monitoring and control unit capable of operating autonomously in the field. The goal was to ensure that every measurement from strain gauges, displacement transducers, and vibration sensors could be captured, processed, and transmitted in real time – regardless of location or weather. 

Achieving it required a rugged IoT device that delivers stable communication, remote accessibility, and uninterrupted performance even during power outages. The device also needed to integrate seamlessly with PLCs and existing monitoring systems, while ensuring secure cloud-based data transmission for real-time remote management. 

Topology 

The Solution – The RUT906 industrial router & Remote Management System 

Inside the rugged enclosure, a PLC-based controller gathers measurements from a range of connected sensors, including temperature probes, strain gauges, and displacement transducers. These inputs are processed locally, then routed through the RUT906 4G router via RS232 connection, which enables field data transmission to the cloud in real time.

The RS232 interface is essential for connecting directly to field sensors and instrumentation that rely on serial communication. It enables tunnelling of serial data over IP networks, such as cellular connections, allowing remote monitoring, diagnostics, and calibration of equipment without the need for on-site access. 

Dual SIM functionality with automatic failover guarantees that connectivity remains uninterrupted even if one mobile operator experiences downtime – critical for continuous monitoring on construction sites, bridges, or tunnels.

Beyond reliable connectivity, the RUT906 LTE router supports key industrial IoT connectivity protocols such as Modbus RTU over RS-485, MQTT, and SNMP, allowing seamless data exchange. On top of that, engineers can securely access field units through VPN tunnels, including OpenVPN, IPsec, and WireGuard, to configure systems, collect data, or perform diagnostics – without the need for on-site visits. 

The LTE router integrates seamlessly with the system’s UPS-powered architecture, where a Mean Well DRC-100A PSU and 12 V battery ensure continuous operation during power loss. Designed for harsh outdoor conditions, the RUT906 features industrial-grade durability, vibration resistance, and a wide operating temperature range from -40 °C to 75 °C, ensuring reliable performance in any environment.

For large-scale deployment, our partner leverages Teltonika’s Remote Management System (RMS) platform. Through RMS Management, Connect, and VPN, network operators can remotely monitor, update, and troubleshoot devices across multiple projects from a single dashboard. This centralized approach improves security, reduces site visits, and ensures that critical monitoring data flows without interruption.

Interested in enhancing your monitoring operations with industrial-grade IoT connectivity? Contact us to learn how the RUT906 RS232 router can power your next IoT solution!