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Linking Analog Geotechnical Monitoring Instruments to a Digital Data Acquisition System

Geotechnical monitoring instruments are increasingly used by civil engineers to monitor dams, tunnels, bridges, and other large structures and civil projects, both during the initial construction phase and on an ongoing basis for control and management purposes as required in the longer term. Monitoring these projects, structures, and installations by interpreting and making use of the data gathered by geotechnical monitoring...

Geotechnical Investigation: Now Android Tablet Compatible!

Geotechnical investigation, whether initial, ongoing, or both, is an important part of a surface mine engineer or civil engineer’s work. Initial geotechnical investigations are generally performed by engineers to determine the placement and status of rock and soil at a surface mining or civil engineering site. Information gathered during this phase is used to design and plan excavations, earthworks, foundations, support...

Wireless Water Level Monitoring: Keeping Surface Mines and Civil Sites Safe and Productive

Wherever large-scale excavations are made, water build-up is almost certain to occur and more than likely become a problem that needs to be managed. This is usually because the water becomes trapped within the excavation and is unable to simply flow away, as would be the case in most naturally occurring water bodies. Two of the most common man-made environments in...

Wireless Mesh Sensor Networks: When Redundancy is a Good Thing

Mention redundancy in most industries and businesses, and it will usually lead to negative thoughts, i.e. items that can no longer be used, people who lose their job due to their job function no longer being required or relevant, etc. However, there is an environment in which redundancy is a good thing – underground mines that switch over from a cable-based...

Common Types of Geotechnical Monitoring Instruments Used in Construction and Mining

Geotechnical monitoring instruments play an important role within construction, civil engineering, and mining environments. They are extensively used by engineers during construction and expansion projects, and as part of ongoing monitoring activities. Within mines (surface and underground), and on major construction and civil engineering projects, engineers need to measure many different factors, of which three important ones are: The deformation of structures,...

Integrating Vibrating-Wire Monitoring Instruments into a Wireless Data Acquisition System Increases Their Usefulness

During the construction of tunnels, bridges, and other civil engineering projects; construction of new mines; expansion of existing mines; de-watering operations; and many other similar activities, it is vitally important that the quantity and behaviour of surface and groundwater are monitored. Sudden changes in the quantity, pressure, or behaviour of surface or groundwater reserves can be an indication of a developing...

Geotechnical Investigation and Data Gathering

The geology of a site and its surroundings have a major impact on the design and planning of civil engineering, tunneling, mining, and other similar activities in a particular area. Initial geotechnical investigations usually include surveying/scanning, assessment of rock and soil samples, and other techniques. Depending on the situation, topography, and type of project that is planned, further geotechnical investigations may...

Wireless Water Level Monitoring Systems Help Civil Engineers Keep Tabs on Construction Sites

Water build-up during construction activities is one of the many challenges civil engineers can face. The risk of having the working site flooded by a body of water that suddenly increases in volume or begins to behave in an unpredictable manner is very real in some cases. Water that is not obviously visible can also cause problems, e.g. when it is...