Geotechnical instrumentation is a tool that is used for characterizing the permeability of soil, the site conditions as well as for characterizing the slope stability. Particularly to the engineers geotechnical instrumentation is like a boon. It helps in through each and every process of the project from root to fruit, viz. from the project commencement through the project completion. Starting from the first phase of the project which is site investigation, as mentioned before It is used for characterizing the site conditions. Even while the project is into its next phase which is design, geotechnical instrumentation does verification of design assumptions and determines if there is any kind of alteration to be done in design. All through the process geotechnical instrumentation helps engineers speed up the whole process without any kind of problems.
Slope monitoring is used for determining the movement of unstable slopes. Slope monitoring finds its applications in monitoring landslides that are active and dangerous in nature and have to be checked for safety purposes repeatedly. It is also used for monitoring other natural slopes. It is also used for monitoring the regions like railway line cuttings and road sides that are prone to rockfalls. In geotechnical instrumentation, it is used for analyzing the behavior and structure of rock mass.
Crack meters are also used in geo-instrumentation. They are used for monitoring joint movements as well as cracks in rocks and structures. Their application includes monitoring the cracks and joints that occur or are affected when there is a construction or excavation going on at a nearby site. It is also used for monitoring structures after a seismic activity has occurred. It also monitors any kind of undesirable movements in the joints of structures. Crack meters measure temperature, incorporating those that are loaded with gas, are best measured through analog meter.
Geotechnical instrumentation also makes use of strain gauges. This gauge is made up of a tensioned vibrating wire. Whenever this tension increases, the resonant frequency also increases and the calculation of the strain is based on the measurement of the resonant frequency.
Geotechnical instrumentation is also useful in ensuring project safety because it provides alerts about any potential hazards or failures at the project site way in advance, so that you can not only evacuate the area and take care of your team's safety but time to take necessary action to avoid the hazard or failure.
This helps the environmentalists in making conservation plans for the future which are really effective.
