MICROCOMPUTER BASED SEISMIC INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS

Developments in microprocessor technology are having considerable influence on the way engineering seismic data is collected, processed and analysed. Case studies of two seismic instrumentation systems and their applications are described. A microcomputer enhanced engineering seismograph, geoseis-merlin, has been developed as a portable repackaged apple unit with a 5 inch monitor, internal printer, bubble memory and disk drive to give on-site processing and results. The unit includes a multi-channel, 12 bit analogue to digital converter card with programmable gain amplifiers, and the system is designed to operate in the field as a self-contained, six channel, seismic processing system. Menu-driven software operations include: data capture incorporating a pre-trigger memory facility for blast monitoring, concatenation and editing of files, display of seismic time data, seismic refraction analysis of up to 24 channels, power spectral computation, display of power and attenuation spectra, spectral smoothing, and digital filtering of waveforms. The system can also be used as an interface to existing seismographs or to the radio telemetric seismic monitoring system. A 24 channel, radio telemetric, seismic monitoring system has been developed, consisting of six portable outstations which can be positioned up to 2 km from a base station located in a land rover or site office. Each microcomputer controlled outstation has one air overpressure and three ground vibration channels for recording up to 16 sec of pre- and post-trigger data. Communication between each outstation recorder and base is via a uhf duplex telemetry link which is used to activate and program each outstation, to maintain synchronization and to transfer data from each recorder to the microcomputer controlled base station. Here the captured seismic event can be stored on cassette, displayed on a 5 inch monitor, or transferred to an apple II microcomputer (geoseis-merlin) for processing. The case studies outline the application of these systems in engineering geology to bedrock depth determination, rock mass characterization, and the monitoring of quarry blasting. This paper was presented at a joint meeting of the Engineering and Information Groups of the Geological Society on "Applications of Microcomputers in Engineering Geology" held 8 May 1984. For the covering abstract see IRRD 287456. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/04812085
• Corporate Authors:

  GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

  BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  W1V 0JU
• Authors:
  • Young, R P
  • Hill, J J
  • GREEN, A D
  • Haigh, R N
  • Middleton, R
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 369-380
• Serial:
  • QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
  • ISSN: 0481-2085

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bedrock; Engineering geology; Information processing; Mass; Microcomputers; Microprocessors; Monitoring; Physical properties; Presplitting; Rocks; Seismicity; Software
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rock mass; Seismic investigations
• Old TRIS Terms: Rock properties
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 5188: Blasting; 8525: Conference; 8655: Data processing; 8673: Digital computer; 5730: Logging; 6136: Measurement; 9045: Micro; 8643: Microprocessor; 4154: Rock; 5731: Seismic; 5722: Site investigation; 5558: Vibration
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00466034
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1988 12:00AM