A device for determining a height of soil above a structure buried below a soil bed includes a sensor assembly comprising a total stress pressure sensor for transmitting a first signal indicating a total pressure, a pore water pressure sensor located proximate to the total stress pressure sensor, the pore water pressure sensor for transmitting a second signal indicating a fluid pressure, a sensor module configured to receive the first and the second signals, determine a difference between the first signal and the second signal, based on the difference between the first signal and the second signal, determine a height of soil above the sensor assembly, and transmit a third signal indicating the height of soil to an external device.