Australian based geotechnical monitoring group Geomotion, has successfully come to a heads of agreement with SkyGeo for their cutting edge InSAR satellite monitoring technology to be used in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Geomotion sees InSAR as complementary to existing instrumentation, not as a replacement, working so well together to offer their clients information that has previously been nearly impossible to obtain
 
InSAR stands for Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar and is a proven technique for measuring ground movements. Satellites record images of the Earth, and these images can be combined to measure movements of the ground surface.

InSAR is particularly useful for monitoring dynamic position changes. InSAR’s broad spectrum of impressive features allow for a new depth of insight for projects. A large number of measurements and weekly updates provide a detailed insight in the slope and speed of subsidence. A sudden drop of a small area might be a reason for local inspection. Wider gradual subsidence tells a different story.

​InSAR allows for possible millimetre accuracy, measurements of areas as small as 100m2 up to 10,000km2 and up to 100,000 measurements per km2. Additionally, the data archive goes back to 1992 and covers 70% of the Earth’s land, meaning in some cases it is possible to have data dating back up to 25 years.

​InSAR presents viable and important solutions across many industries, including Mining Stability, Tailings Dam Stability, Civil Engineering and Energy, including oil and gas projects both onshore and offshore.
 
Mining stability monitoring is a service to provide persistent geotechnical risk surveillance to identify areas of abnormal surface movement over time. Mines need to be up and running 24/7 and Geomotion helps achieve that goal by identifying instabilities early. By assessing time-dependent shape changes in InSAR data, geotechnical domain experts can identify patterns of instabilities.

This is a direct pathway to improve asset management in mining operations. Combined with strategically placed geotechnical or structural instrumentation a comprehensive monitoring plan is established.
 
Each mine has several areas of high geotechnical risk, that each require dedicated iterative assessment. Tailings dams pose a special category of risk. Because of environmental issues in the recent past, most mining experts are now looking for continuous monitoring systems to predict instability better. Solid tailings are often used as part of the structure itself and with the tailings being liquid or a slurry of fine particles within groundwater, significant instabilities arise in a variety of ways that are usually not completely understood. With InSAR, Geomotion can help with this understanding. We characterise and quantify these time-dependent degradation processes on a wide area scale and identify different dynamic patterns. Monitoring these patterns continuously is a proven permanent risk management method.

​Geomotion/SkyGeo JV configures InSAR monitoring solutions for their clients, each with a graph of deformation over time. Risk management practitioners use this for predictive maintenance. Geomotion/SkyGeo JV monitors subsidence for many civil engineering projects in this way including roads, railways, dams, bridges, tunnels, airports, pipelines, neighbourhoods, sewage systems, buildings and water defence.

InSAR technology is available from the Geomotion/Skygeo JV now. Enquiries regarding how InSAR can benefit your project can be made today by contacting Geomotion’s offices on 1300 884 542 or click here to send an email. Alternatively, use the form below and a Geomotion representative will ​get in touch with you soon.

Albany Wind Farm is an 18 turbine wind farm with the southern hemisphere’s largest wind turbines. It has the capacity to meet 80% of Albany’s power needs.

Geomotion were appointed by WSP to provide a monitoring system for the farm.  The aim of the project is to monitor the service life of the turbine foundations at Albany Wind Farm.

​By installing tiltmeters on the base of three of the twelve turbines, WSP is intending to establish the extent of foundation movement, the extent of fatigue damage on the tensioned ground anchors and the extent of fatigue damage to the concrete foundation.  

Geomotion installed two Biaxial Tiltmeters to each of the three chosen turbines at 90° angles form one another with the intention of monitoring the vertical movement of the foundation in four directions.

The sensors where glued to the base of each turbine mast using high strength epoxy resin glue, each covered with a protective metal vandal proof cover.

​To allow the client to gain near-real time data of the foundation movement we attached these sensors to YDOC, Model number WL-N315ADS Data loggers. These loggers record the tilt on a 15 minute basis and provide a report email daily.

Premier Coal is situated in the Collie Coal Basin in the South West of Western Australia,
approximately 200km south-south-east of Perth. ​The mining operations are about 15km east of the town of Collie, which is situated in the jarrah forests of WA.

Premier Coal Mine produces a clean coal with low ash and sulphur content such that it does not need to be washed and requires only crushing, sizing and blending prior to use. The coal handling equipment installed at the Premier Coal Mine is very effective. The system has been designed to supply coal in a very consistent way so that there are no variations in quality.

The coal handling plant consists of a crusher, screening plant, stockpile stacker, reclaimer and delivering system for Premier’s customers, either by conveyor, rail or truck.

As part of Premier’s open cut pit monitoring, over 29 piezometers were installed in 11 locations across the area. Previously, the data was collected manually by site personnel.

Geomotion proposed the Loadsensing G6 Data Logging system to automate the collection process, including a 5-channel node at each location and a centralised gateway. The data is presented directly in Premier’s data management software.

This system fully automates the collection and presentation of piezometer readings, ensuring the data available for analysis is kept up to date at all times.

​Mascot Towers is the high-profile residential building in Sydney that was evacuated in June 2019 due to serious concern about its structural integrity.
 
With the rapid growth of our cities and the increasing need for affordable housing, buildings similar to Mascot Towers are popping up quickly throughout Sydney and other major Australian cities.

​Concerns were initially raised when significant cracking began to occur suddenly through the building’s basement foundations (see image below).

Geomotion were engaged by the remedial engineers to supply and install structural monitoring equipment on critical areas in the building's basement.
 
A site walkover was undertaken on the Monday morning after the evacuation, the same day Geomotion was first contacted. Sensors were installed and commenced sending live data to Geomotion Cloud, Geomotion's online data hosting platform, by the very next day.

Geomotion's precision monitoring systems can be utilised, not only after a major structural failure event, but also during construction and throughout a building's lifespan to provide critical information on a building's structural health, early warning alarms and peace of mind for all stakeholders.

​Geomotion technicians carried out the installation of 4 tilt meters on critical areas on the basement slab, with four additional tilt meters set to be installed soon.

A 3G telemetry gateway was installed to enable data to be transmitted remotely – importantly removing the need to be inside the building to retrieve data.
 
Geomotion's data team set up the online portal on Geomotion Cloud, where data is displayed in easy to interpret plots.
 
Geomotion also integrated external survey data into Geomotion Cloud, offering the client a centralised platform to view all data, enabling them to make quick and informed decisions. 

Want to ensure the safety and reliability of your major property asset? Geomotion can help. Contact us today for an obligation free discussion on how our precision monitoring solutions can provide key information in real time to prevent costly and dangerous critical failures. Suitable for new construction and existing building monitoring.

The Omnidots SWARM is a revolution in vibration monitoring!

If you are concerned with asset monitoring and the risk of vibrations causing damage to buildings and other structures, monitor vibrations with Omnidots.

The SWARM vibration monitor, together with the Geomotion Cloud web platform, provides you with insight into vibrations and helps you ensure that vibrations remain within the set limits. With Omnidots' vibration monitoring solutions, you are in control of all your projects, simply by using your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
​
This budget-friendly vibration monitor is more cost efficient than alternative solutions as well as being cutting edge technology with vastly improved precision data and reporting.

Measured in accordance with Australian Guidelines and combined with Geomotion Cloud software, Omnidots SWARM is the premier vibration monitoring solution available today.

The Queen's Wharf development in Brisbane is a GLS Monitoring project involving Geomotion and Land Surveys.

The project, part of the redevelopment of the Queen’s Wharf Precinct into a new world-class integrated resort, includes full automation of existing monitoring devices, as well as the installation of additional instruments including:

• Geomotion Cloud Software & Reporting,
• Automated Total Stations,
• Prisms,
• Joint meters,
• Vibration monitoring, and
• Solar Powered Systems

The project includes a staged warning system during Maritime works as part of the construction management plan, as well as monitoring of key structures including the Riverside Expressway.

The final piece of Sydney's WestConnex puzzle has been placed, after the New South Wales Government today announced stage three of the controversial project had been approved.

Key points:

• The $7 billion link runs underground for about 8 kilometres
• It will connect the M4 at Haberfield to the M5 at St Peters, via another interchange at Rozelle
• The NSW Government claims it will save "hours of travel time" each week

It means a tunnel will be built connecting the M4 at Haberfield to the M5 at St Peters — a development WestConnex Minister Stuart Ayres described as being "like the Sydney Harbour Bridge".

It will create a non-stop bypass of Sydney's CBD and inner-west, slashing travel times.

However, the proposal has also attracted significant opposition.

This time last year, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore briefed Premier Gladys Berejiklian on a set of alternatives at a meeting.

The $17 billion WestConnex development has been previously described by the NSW Government as the world's biggest road project.

Stage three will also include links to the Iron Cove Bridge and Rozelle Interchange.
Mr Ayres said the tunnel was crucial to the city's transport future.

"Like the Sydney Harbour Bridge did for the North Shore, the M4-M5 Link will bridge a major gap in the road network, creating a non-stop underground western bypass of Sydney's CBD, slashing travel times and delivering over 18 hectares of open space for local communities," he said.

In August 2017, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for WestConnex stage three said the project would slash travel times from Sydney's western suburbs to the CBD.

​It argued the 55-kilometre trip from Penrith to the CBD could cost drivers $22 today, but when WestConnex was finished, the tolls would be capped at $8.60 for the same journey.

Final stage 'hasn't even been designed', Labor says

Labor's roads spokeswoman Jodi McKay accused the Government of trying to avoid public scrutiny by announcing the approval on a Friday afternoon.

"This is the largest infrastructure project in the states history, the final stage of it, and no one is around to actually enlighten people about this project," she said.

Ms McKay said the Government rushed the approval process for the Rozelle interchange and ignored community concerns because it is seeking to sell the Sydney Motorway Corporation. 

"This is an extraordinary situation given the Government has approved something that hasn't even been designed," she said.

"There has been no community consolation, there has been no transparency yet suddenly today we find out it's been approved."

Project settled behind closed doors: Greens

Reacting to the approval of West Connex's final stage, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said: "What we've just discovered is that West Connex stage three was secretly approved 10 days ago behind closed doors".

"No wonder the Government is ashamed of this wasteful project," Mr Byrne said.

"Throughout the Inner West we're now going to see more smoke stacks and the mother of all rat runs.

"With the demolition of homes, the secrecy behind the West Connex project, people know this Government has it in for us and...[stage three] will be worse than anything we've seen yet."

Mr Byrne said he wanted "to see the Government invest in a proper solution to modern congestion which is of course...public transport."

'We need to see transparency'

State Greens MP and member for Newtown, Jenny Leong, said "the arrogance of the Berejiklian Government knows no bounds".

"We have seen tens of thousands of submissions from the community and experts opposing this (project).

"The public appetite is there... to open up the books.

"The community have put their concerns front and centre in this planning process."

Ms Leong said the NSW Greens were pushing for more transparency.

"We are urging the NSW Labor Opposition and the crossbenchers of the upper house to support the Greens' call for the exposure of the papers. We need to see transparency and accountability."

SOURCE: ABC News

The Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL) project will deliver an 8.5 km extension of the existing PTA urban rail network in Perth, Western Australia connecting the Midland Line, just past Bayswater Station, to Forrestfield, running underground in twin bored tunnels underneath the Swan River, Tonkin Highway and Perth Airport. The project will include three new stations, being: Redcliffe Station (located underground in Redcliffe), Airport Central Station (located underground at Perth Airport to service both domestic and international terminals) and Forrestfield Station.

The project will provide new rail services allowing a 20-minute rail journey from Forrestfield Station to the Perth CBD, improved bus networks for the eastern suburbs, foothills and surrounding communities as well as integration with the full Transperth bus and train network.

Redcliffe Station and Forrestfield Station will have rail-bus interchanges and up to 2,500 new car parking bays in total.

Description of Geomotion Works

Salini Impregilo S.p.A. - NRW Pty Ltd Joint Venture (SI- NRW JV) has entered into an agreement with Field Monitoring Services, Geomotion Australia, Land Surveys Joint Venture (FGLS JV) for the work of:

“SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, TESTING, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE OF GEOTECHNICAL AND SURVEY INSTRUMENTATION, INCLUSIVE OF MONITORING AND MIMS MANAGEMENT FOR FORRESTFIELD AIRPORT LINK PROJECT”.

​Geomotion is working as a part of Joint Venture partner and broadly responsible for the followings works:

• Drilling (through subcontractor) & Installations, maintenance and monitoring of Geotechnical Instruments as per Project Instrumentation and Monitoring Plan (IMP). The monitoring system incorporates installation of Inclinometer tubing with spider magnets/ magnetic ring for DEX system including in-place inclinometers, single and multipoint rod extensometers & displacement transducer, Heave Stake, Piezometers (Vibrating wire, vented pressure transducer with conventional sand filter), Strain Gauges (surface, tunnel segment & strut), Strut Load Cells, Biaxial Tilt meter, Electro level Beam, Vibrometer and Structure Monitoring Prism inside tunnel for convergence monitoring.
• Installation of Dataloggers (miniOmnialog, Omnialog, Loadsensing, Syscom) with telemetry for automation for instruments required near real time measurements.
• Set up & Maintenance of Web based Monitoring Information & Management System (MIMS) using Maxwell Geosystems Mission OS construction data management package. All sensors are either connected to data logging system and is linked to MIMS with telemetry or manual survey data processed & uploaded on MIMS. The software allows direct comparison between monitored and designed behavior including automated reporting.

A NSW goldmine forced to shut down for three months last year after an earthquake has again halted operations following a dam wall breach.

The wall of a tailings dam at the Cadia mine, about 20km south of Orange, partially collapsed on Friday after there were two magnitude 2.7 earthquakes in the region on Thursday.

Its operator Newcrest Mining says there is no threat to personal safety and it has secured the area around the dam.

A "comprehensive geotechnical monitoring system" was implemented, the company said on Saturday.

The material involved, which was contained within the southern dam, was described as "a slurry of finely ground rock, water and a low level of benign processing re-agents".

The mine was forced to shut down after it was hit by a magnitude 4.3 earthquake in April 2017 and didn't return to partial production until July, causing a huge hit to the company's first-half profit.

Source: The West Australian (AAP)

The Western Harbour Tunnel & Beaches Link is a planned north-south motorway along the current alignment of Wakehurst Parkway between Warringah Road, Frenchs Forest and the WestConnex motorway in Sydney. Up to 235 borehole sites will be tested in suburbs including Balgowlah, Seaforth, North Sydney, Neutral Bay and Cammeray. These investigations will feed into engineering design, final costings for the project and further route analysis.

As part of the geotechnical investigation, Geomotion was commissioned by AECOM to install Vibrating Wire Piezometers (VWP’s) at three inclined borehole locations along the proposed alignment. At each location, up to four VWP’s were installed at lengths of up to 160 m to monitor specified zones of ground water pressure. Each location was fitted with a Rippa 3G data logger with Stalker VW interface. Each of the four data loggers were custom designed and built to fit in the top of the borehole underneath a trafficable GATIC.
 
The data loggers have been programmed to upload hourly readings to a cloud based server. Data is presented showing fluctuations in water pressure (kPa), meters below ground level (mBGL), meters Australian Height Datum (mAHD), meters head of water (mH20).
 
Geomotion has also supplied and commissioned twelve water level data loggers. The system comprises a Sisgeo 4-20mA piezometer and Rippa 3G data logger installed within standpipe piezometers all housed beneath a trafficable GATIC. The water level is recorded hourly and uploaded on a 12 hourly basis, presented on Outpost’s online data management system. The system brings in data from nearby BOM stations to correct for barometric pressure changes and present rainfall data.