High Quality Geotechnical Instrumentation Services (2024)

Introduction & Commitment

Purpose of geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring includes:

• Site Investigation
• Design Verification
• Construction Control
• Quality Control
• Safety
• Legal Protection
• Performance

Displacement /Deformation Monitoring

• Ground – Lateral, Vertical Movement
• Structure – Crack, Tilt, Pressure, Strain, Load

Ground Water Monitoring

• Ground Water Level
• Pore Water Pressure

Environment Monitoring

• Noise and Vibration

Real Time Monitoring System

We are committed to provide high quality and reliable geotechnical and structural instrumentation and monitoring results for our clients, especially in times where such monitoring has become an integral part of the construction process.

Nodes connect with vibrating wire or analogue sensors and transmit their data to the Gateway. The nodes take period readings of the sensors they are interfaced with and transmit them to the Gateway. The Gateway then uploads all the gathered sensor data to the Cloud. The real time system eliminates the need for heavy manpower and provide monitoring options to hard-to-access sites and tunnels.

Dataloggers can monitor a wide variety of geotechnical datalogging applications. They are ideally suited for structural and geotechnical monitoring and a single data logger can read a large number of sensors provided they are concentrated into a small area.Typical applications include dams and bridges, railways and tunnels.

SIPL In-House Monitoring System

Our in-house monitoring system is a web-based application with multi-tier user matrix which is hosted in dedicated and secured server with automated backup system

Ground Displacement /Deformation Monitoring

Thesettlement markeris used to measure a localizedsettlementor heave of roads, slopes, embankments, utility pipes and cables.The monitoring Settlement is carried out by levelling survey and readings are taken at regular intervals to check any settlement or heave

• This method purpose to find the vertical movement of any structure.
• Building settlement markers structural can provide early warning of impending structural failures so that analysis and decision can be promptly.

• The Groundsettlement markeris used to monitor the vertical settlement or heaving of thegroundsurface. It comprises a profoundgroundsettlement point of steel.
• Nail type ground settlement marker is used to monitor to find vertical movement of the soil. (Do not allow in soil surface)
• Rebar method is consisting a deep ground settlement point of steel rod installed into the ground(soil).

Total Station

• Total station is useful for measuring horizontal angles, vertical angles and distance.
• Monitoring the vertical movement settlement and the tilt effects of tunneling and excavating of the building.

Extensometer

• Monitoring settlement or heave in excavations, foundations and embankments.
• Monitoring settlement or heave above tunnel and other underground openings.
• Monitoring convergence in tunnel walls.

Magnetic Extensometer
The magnetic extensometer measures subsurface settlement or heave in:

• Earth fill embankments
• Excavation
• Ground improvement projects
• Reclamation projects

Data recorded from the extensometer indicates the depths at which settlements has occurred as well as the total amount of settlement

• Excavation
• Mines
• Retaining structures
• Bridge supports etc.
  

VM Extensometer
Multiple Point Rod Extensometer can be used to measure displacement or deformation in soil, rock and concrete structures. Up to six anchors can be installed at various depths in a borehole to monitor the locate multiple failure plains and zones of movement. It can be read manually or remotely read through Nodes & Gateways

Inclinometer

Inclinometer is device to measure lateral displacement deformation of the ground/structures.It can be applied to determine:

• Excavation
• Slope and landslide movement
• Deflection of piles or retaining wall
• Movement of dams, dam abutments and upstream slopes
• Effects of tunnelling operations

In Place Inclinometer (IPI)
In-Place Inclinometer is used when continuous monitoring is required for control and safety, or when location is remote/non-accessible. The inclinometers are powered and read by a data logger where data is updated constantly to our instrumentation software.

Spiral Sensor Survey
Spiral sensor is used to determine if the inclinometer casing was twisted during installation. It is usually utilized to perform quality check on the casing when the installation is very deep. It is also applied when inclinometer readings indicate movement in unlikely directions.

Earth Pressure Cell

Earth pressure cells, also called total earth pressure cells, measure the total earth pressures at the locations where they are installed. Common application includes installation at:

• Embankments (Beneath embankment)
• Surface structures (retaining walls, piles, or culverts)
• Buried structures

An array of earth pressure cells can be used to determine the pressure distribution within the soil. Earth pressure cells are used mainly to verify the earth pressures computed in the structural design phase.

Load Cells

• Retaining walls
• Dams
• Foundations & Bridge bearings etc

There are diverse types of load cells depending on the requirement, e.g., Hydraulic anchor load cells, electric anchor load cell & Electro-hydraulic load cells. All load cells with electrical signal output can be manually read with a portable readout or can be connected to datalogger for Real Time data management and alerting.

VW Strain Gauge

Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges are designed for long-term strain measurements of steel structures including buildings, bridges, tunnel linings, arches, struts, sheet piling and piles. It can be read manually or remotely read through Nodes & Gateways.

Building Crack Monitoring

TellTale Crack Meters
Crack Meters are used to monitor movement/expansion at cracks during construction and to mitigate further structural issues. Monitoring commonly done at joints and cracks in concrete structures that are:

• Identified during the preconstruction surveys (existing cracks/joints)
• Formed during construction activity (newly developed cracks/joints)

Typical applications include:

• Monitoring joints to provide early warning of performance problems
• Monitoring joints and cracks in structures that could be affected by nearby construction activities

VW Crack Meter

Vibrating Wire Crack Meters can be used when long term continuous monitoring is required, or when location is remote/non-accessible. It is used to monitor movement/expansion at cracks during construction and to mitigate further structural issues. It can be read manually or be connected to a data logger where data updated constantly to our instrumentation software.

Tilt Meter

Tilt Meter use to monitor changes in the tilt of a structure due to nearby construction activities. Tiltmeter data can provide an accurate history of inclination of a structure and early warning of potential structural damage

Common application of tiltmeters includes monitoring of:

• Rotation in wall to verify stability
• Rotation or differential movements in structure
• Stability of structures in landslide areas
• Deflection and deformation of retaining walls
• Convergence and other movements in tunnels

Tilt Sensor
Tilt sensors are commonly used to measure tilt in structures, including buildings, dams, embankments, slopes, retaining walls, open pits, etc. It can be read manually or remotely read through nodes and gateways

Electro Level Beam
Electro level beam sensors detect differential movement and rotation in structures. Two versions of the beam sensor are available:

• Horizontal for monitoring settlement or heave
• Vertical for monitoring lateral displacement and convergence

Common application of tiltmeters includes monitoring of:

• Monitoring structures which may be affected by nearby tunneling and excavating
• Evaluating the performance of bridges and beams under load
• Monitoring the stability of structures in landslide areas
• Monitoring the deflection and deformation of retaining walls
• Monitoring convergence and other movements in tunnels

Environment Monitoring - Noise Level Monitoring

Building construction and excavation work can cause considerable noise emissions that may lead to noise complaints. With sound level meters, disruption to surrounding environment can be minimized by ensuring the noise emitted is within the NEA permissible noise limits. We use certified Class 1 Sound Level meter for all of our noise monitoring works.

Environment Monitoring - Vibration Monitoring

Building construction and excavation work can cause vibrations that may damage nearby property/ structures. With vibration meters, disruption to surrounding environment can be minimized by warning contractors to reduce vibrations when vibration level exceeded vibration limits.

Piezometer

Piezometersare widely used in civil engineering to monitor pore water pressure.

Common applications include to monitor:

• Earth fill dams and embankments
• Up-lift pressure in dam foundations
• Ground water level
• Pore water pressure
• Seepage
• Water pressure behind tunnel linings
• Potential landslides, and instable slopes

• Dewatering and pump tests
• Foundations, and excavations with retaining walls and slopes

Piezometersare directly buried within the soil, rock or interface between rock and ground and structure at the level where the pore water pressure is to be monitored.

Casagrande Piezometers measure the dissipation of induced pore pressure. The Casagrande (also known as standpipe piezometer) measure the water level in the standpipe with water level indicator. The advantages of the standpipe piezometer are very good long-term stability andreliability in difficult environments, economical and simple to read.

Vibrating Wire Piezometers provide accurate measurement of pore water pressures in fully or partially saturated soil. The transducer is made from Stainless Steel and designed to handle pressure ranges up to 5000 kPa. It is commonly used for the measurement of ground water elevations, pore water pressures and water pressures behind tunnel linings. It can be read manually or remotely read through nodes and gateways.

Water Standpipe

Water standpipesare commonly used in civil engineering to monitor ground water level. Water standpipe are installed below ground with respect to the ground and measure water levels in water wells.Typical applications include monitoring rises or falls of water level inside the pipe.

Recharge Well

It is a method of suppressing background subsidence by reinjectinggroundwaterback to the targeted ground and recovering the underground water level.The recharge well is commonly used in construction to limit the adverse effects of the large drawdown necessary for deep excavations in urban areas by returning water to the aquifer away from the site dewatering system.