Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as a potentially competitive structural monitoring
technology. Most studies in the literature focus on network issues, such as energy consumption, network
connectivity in order to improve the monitoring system efficiency and reliability. Nevertheless, the integration
of the application aspects can provide further information for improving the monitoring system
efficiency. This paper addresses the layout optimization of a WSN for a footbridge monitoring system considering
the network energy consumption and sensor placement quality. Several important aspects including radio
channel, data routing, and topology control are considered in the network energy model. The sensor
placement is analyzed within a framework that can best capture the bridge properties. Simulation experiments
exhibit that there is space for improvement on the overall systems performance.