Nominee: Seismic Surveys, Inc.

Project Description:

SeismoBot Development for In-House Use on Various Projects in the United States of America

Timeframe and Budget:  

From June 2006 to December 2007, SSI has developed and built 44 SeismoBots for In-house use for remote seismic monitoring of various projects throughout the Eastern USA from New York to Florida.  This effort has represented an investment of over $250,000 in remote seismic data acquisition technology and equipment with Instantel MiniMate Plus seismographs and Mobile Electron /Airlink Raven Cellular Modems.

Specific Challenge and Innovative Solution:

The challenge was to develop a remote data acquisition system that would be compact, totally wireless, automated, would work in remote locations, and would be readily deployed.  SSI mounted remote security enclosures, solar panels and alarm strobe lights on lightweight MagLine hand trucks.  Each enclosure is equipped with a solar controller to regulate voltage, a 12Volt deep cycle marine battery for power, an AirLink Raven Modem programmed to work with Instantel Seismographs, appropriate cabling, and a MiniMate Plus Seismograph

The development of the InstaLink Web based solution and the AutoCall Home feature and BWMail allowed a totally hands off solution to monitoring multiple sites without having to staff each site full time.  SSI integrated the remote data acquisition ability of the Raven modems with the Instantel seismographs and the AutoCall Home feature, SSI’s computer network, and Instantel’s InstaLink technology to automatically disseminate project seismic data on up to 10 projects simultaneously with up to 12 seismographs on each project at one time. 

Representative projects monitored with this technology include:

• The North Shore Connector Tunnel, Pittsburgh, PA (by Trumbull Corp)
• Princeton University Chemistry Building Princeton, NJ (Turner Construction, Vollers, and LP Drilling were the Contractors)
• Hamilton Hospital Addition, Hamilton, OH ( J&L Management)
• Annapolis City Dock Re-construction, Annapolis, Maryland (for Corman-Imbach Marine)

Results Achieved:

The demand for this technology has grown exponentially.  Last year at this time, we had less than 10 SeismoBot systems.  Now we have 44 and they are all out in the field. 

Names and Persons with Key Involvement:

• David K. Miller, P.G., President of Seismic Surveys has been pursuing remote seismic monitoring technology and has been on the cutting edge of the technology since 2001. 
• Eric Maynard, General Manager with Seismic Surveys maintains the project websites and troubleshoots equipment when the need arises. 
• Will Spencer, Staff Geologist with Seismic Surveys has built most of our SeismoBots
• Laura Burns, Administrative Assistant with Seismic Surveys uses the system to develop project submittals.
• Elena Miller, Vice President with Seismic Surveys has paid all the bills associated with the Technology development and has dealt with Verizon with the patience of a saint. 
• Eric Gagne of Instantel has offered excellent technical support in this effort.