## 2 Materials and Methods
### Tests on the New Jersey Barriers  
At the factory where the tests were conducted, multiple production lines manufacture various concrete products, primarily using self-compacting concrete, except for pipes that use semi-dry concrete. The manufacturing process begins with mold preparation, followed by pouring concrete and curing. Initially, products are kept inside to protect them from atmospheric conditions, improving the curing process. Once they reach sufficient strength, they are transported outdoors for exposure until delivery. The experimental specimens were exposed to two environmental conditions post-production: the controlled environment of the facility and the unpredictable outdoor conditions. Due to the high temperatures in August (exceeding 40 \({}^{\circ}\)C) and logistical challenges, it was decided to conduct a single controlled test to better assess sensor data reliability. The outdoor testing in La Carlota (Cordoba) during July exposed the specimens to extreme summer conditions, with peak daytime temperatures exceeding 40 \({}^{\circ}\)C and relative humidity dropping to 25-35%, according to local meteorological records. The New Jersey-type concrete barriers used in this experimental campaign are safety elements made of self-compacting reinforced concrete. The concrete is characterized by a compressive strength of 25 N/mm\({}^{2}\). These barriers measure 0.85 m in height, 0.6 m in width, and 2 m in length, with drainage outlets positioned at 0.62 m, as illustrated in Figure 4.  
The sensor nomenclature uses the following designations in sequential order:  
* T: Temperature sensor;
* H: Humidity sensor;
* S: Surface;  
Figure 4: Dimensional details and 3D model view of symmetrical New Jersey concrete barrier: (**a**) side view; (**b**) frontal view; and (**c**) 3D view. All dimensions are given in millimeters (mm). * D: Drainage;
* B: Concrete body;
* I: Specim inside the facility under protected environmental conditions;
* E: Specim outside the facility under open-air environmental conditions. Figure 5 depicts the sensor locations on the New Jersey barrier specimen. Six temperature sensors (TSII, TSI2, TSI3, TBI4, TBI5, and TBI6) and four humidity sensors (HI4, HI5, HI7, and HI8) were placed in the specimen. Half of the temperature sensors were placed near the surface of the specimen at a depth of 15 cm, like the previous tests conducted on cylindrical specimens in the laboratory. The other 3 temperature sensors (TBI4, TBI5, and TBI6) have been placed at a depth of 40 cm in the concrete core. This allows for the observation of temperature differences at different depths within the concrete. Furthermore, it has been proposed to utilize a PVC pipe, which is used to form the drains of the specimen, to waterproof the humidity sensor (HI7) and position it, along with a temperature sensor, at this location. The sensors were connected to the Arduino board located in a nearby area, as can be seen in the photograph in Figure 6.  
Figure 5: Position of temperature sensors (on the TS surface and within the TB concrete bulk) and humidity sensors (H) in the New Jersey barrier: (**a**) lateral view, and (**b**) front view. Figure 6: New Jersey barrier mold with embedded sensors. Additionally, 7 sensors were placed to measure ambient temperature. These sensors were placed divided into two groups and located in two different areas. Sensors T8 and T9 were placed in a zone closer to the specimen, inside the factory, while sensors T10, T11, T12, T13, and T14 were positioned in an area further away from the specimen, near the exterior zone of the factory unaffected by the concrete volume. Diagram of Sensor Connection with Arduino Mega  
A total of 10 sensors were placed--6 temperature sensors and 4 humidity sensors. All these sensors need to be connected to the same Arduino board to conduct the test.