Orica Digital Solutions' Gary Logan, along with Anders Jansson, WSP Sweden, Samuel Fournier-Bidoz, Solexperts, and Dr. Nicola Bicocchi, Geotechnical Observations, recently presented webinar, Setting the standard for versatility in geotechnical monitoring: Learn how to get the most out of ShapeArrayTM from the experts that use it.

These three partners shared an in-depth look at what made them choose Measurand’s ShapeArrayTM to meet the monitoring requirements for their projects, focusing on convergence monitoring, landslide monitoring, and rail infrastructure monitoring. 

Anders Jansson, Senior Project Manager, with WSP Sverige AB, Geometrik Department presented: Shotcrete and borehole grouting of SAAX and SAAV arrays in tunnel production environments in the Gothenburg West Link tunnel project, Sweden: Challenging clients to abandon traditional vertical to horizontal inclinometer measuring techniques for fast and robust installations with near real-time monitoring at reduced cost. 

Samuel Fournier-Bidoz, project Manager Geotechnics and Monitoring with Solexperts presented: Landslide monitoring along a pipeline in Albania. The presentation will focus on how ShapeArray formed the monitoring system used to provide continuous measurements of ground movement and allowing changes in slope behaviour to be followed over time. 

Dr Nicola Bicocchi, Technical Manager, with Geotechnical Observations Limited presented: Trial embankment monitoring for a major infrastructure project. This presentation will go through the installation methodologies for the horizontal displacement and settlement monitoring and an overview of the monitoring results. 

In this webinar, you’ll learn how Measurand's ShapeArray can offer the versatility to rise to a variety of geotechnical monitoring challenges. Explore how ShapeArray gives you a more detailed picture of subsurface movement with unparalleled durability relative to lateral and horizontal displacement.   

This webinar covered: 

• A detailed overview of three different methods of ShapeArray deployment and installation for vertical, horizontal, and tunnel monitoring applications
• In-depth look at the considerations when selecting the right deployment method to meet project objectives and requirements
• An understanding of how ShapeArray’s versatility can help tackle a variety of geotechnical monitoring challenges throughout a project’s lifecycle
• Real-world examples and use-cases, presented by three trusted partners 

We received several questions during the webinar that we’ve answered below. The following has been edited for clarity. 

Question: What was the rationale behind the SAAV being used rather than the SAAX in the Gothenburg West Link tunnel project? 

Answered by Anders Jannson: For the first installations we did in the Korsvägen station, the tunnel lining was not smooth enough at all. That's the reason why we used the SAAV for that installation. For the second installation, which was a horizontal inclinometer installation, which was straight and horizontal. The client chose for us because that was a cheaper option over the SAAV, but then again, they had to work quite a bit more on the on the surface to make it smooth because we told them that we would only accept a maximum of +/- 200 mm away from the horizontal for the installation. In that case, the client made the decision for us. It's a price issue, but again, you could go for the cheaper cable and but then you need to put more work into preparation. I would have thought even for the horizontal inclinometer casing for the second installation, that we did, you should probably have gone for the SAAV. 

Question: How can an SAASuite user get the velocity graph? I'm able to use the displacement graph but would like to use SAASuite deeper. 

Answered by Samuel Fournier-Bidoz: Yes, I can. However, the measuring chain does not give us the velocity immediately. You must make the calculations later. We perform those calculations on our IoT platform. We look at the time stamp for data, the gap, the delta we have in time and we create with a difference of measurements, with a delta of time, we can calculate for velocity. But it is not given directly by the SAAV chain, its post-treatment. It's an easy calculation. Not much work more to do. It's just a calculation and it depends on how you look at your data, how you treat your data, but it's quite straightforward. 

Question: Could you clarify what is involved in installing the ShapeArray SAAV in a 27 mm casing compared to a 100 mm casing? Are there any differences in installation methodology, grouting requirements, performance, or limitations between the two casing sizes? 

Answered by Anders Jannson: If I answer from my perspective in the tunnel environment with its vibrating and its blasting, I will select a smaller casing, of course, for the cable not to move around. That will be my primary conclusion. There are dampers for the ShapeArray that we can then we could be put on but I would recommend having the ShapeArray as fixed as possible, at least in the tunnel production environment.  

Watch the webinar on-demand to learn more about how versatile the ShapeArray is and how it can adapt to many different installation situations.