Semi-Real Time Inclinometer readings using Wireless Technologies
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This document describes a new method for taking semi-real time inclinometer readings using wireless technologies. The current practice of downloading data from inclinometers to a PC on site and then transporting the PC back to the office takes over 13 hours for readings from 10 boreholes. The new method uses a battery-powered device with Bluetooth to transmit readings from the inclinometer to a worker's mobile phone. The data is then sent via GPRS to a central server where it is automatically processed, plotted, and emailed to stakeholders, taking only 70 minutes total. This provides an 11-fold improvement in throughput time and allows stakeholders to immediately discuss unexpected readings and monitor critical sites more safely and effectively. Feedback from users has been
Semi-Real Time Inclinometer readings using Wireless Technologies
- 1. Semi-Real Time Inclinometer readings using Wire-less Technologies G.H. Tan, Y.K. Poh SysEng (S) Pte Ltd N. Osborne, C.C. Ng Land Transport Authority, Singapore
- 2. Geotechnical Instruments are :- •Site Investigation Work •Design Verification •Performance •Safety •Construction Control •Quality Control •Legal Protection
- 3. When safety is the highest priority, it must have a reliable and fast method to deliver on- site results to decision makers:- •Safety •Construction Control •Quality Control •Legal Protection
- 4. Lessons learned from a Major Past incident
- 5. Inclinometers are used for monitoring the soil movements over time Daily Automatic Data Processing of Inclinometer Readings
- 7. Geokon Slope Indicator Encardio-rite RST Instruments (PDA) Inclinometers from various manufacturers Soil Instruments (PDA) There readout boxes require a PC to download their data
- 8. Timing for measuring 10 bore holes in a site 10 mins In Main office, switch on PC to download, process, verify and email to Stake Holders Drive back for 60 mins Case Study: Total Throughput time for Bore Hole#1 data to reach end user is 60x10 + 10x9 + 60 + 30 mins = 780 mins (13 hrs) 30 mins for processing data 60 minsBore Hole#1 10 mins 60 minsBore Hole#2 10 mins 60 minsBore Hole#3 60 minsBore Hole#10
- 9. Many challenges to ensure consistency as construction sites are far from ideal conditions with practical constraints of :- •Human Errors •Measurement bore holes with blockages •Worker inexperience •Inefficiencies due to manual work •Weather (Rain, Lightning and Heat)
- 10. A new method to reduce the time taken from the measurement until it reaches the Stake Holder using Wire- less Technologies
- 11. Simple steps for Data retrieval from sites using existing inclinometer, user’s mobile phone Short Range Device consists of a battery powered embedded computer with Wire-less Bluetooth module 3 m
- 12. Central Server System Transferring data from Mobile Phone to Stake holder using Central Server GPRS Open Public Network Email with raw data & Inclinometer plot
- 13. Worker walks to another bore hole Timing taken in the New Work Flow Process 2 mins Case Study: Total Throughput time for Bore Hole#1 data to reach end user is 60 + 2 + 8 mins = 70 mins 60 minsBore Hole#1 8 mins GPRS Transmission Automatic Processing and Emailing 10 mins
- 14. Comparison of the time taken to obtain on site measurements Current Practice : 780 minutes Improve Method : 70 minutes Throughput improvements : = 780 / 70 = 11 ! +
- 15. Advantages of the Semi-Real Time Inclinometer solution • PC-less system to retrieve the data • Preventing loss of PC on site • Maximum use of inclinometer system • Low Error possibility with less human intervention of data processing • Worker uses this own Mobile Phone with only additional GPRS charges • Consultant gets measured data immediately • Any measurement re-confirmation can be done immediately via a phone call rather than doing it the next day
- 16. Site Workers Office staff gets information and discuss resultsMeasures and Transmit data + SDR
- 17. The feedback comments from the users:- • When the readings showed unexpected movements, it provides opportunity to immediately phone the site staff to re-measure and verify that particular bore-hole.
- 18. • When there are Critical Lateral Displacements to be monitored, this is the best approach to control the Site Work Activities to enhance the Safety as well as to allow Critical Activity to be carried out
- 19. • Without this technology, the technician needs to monitor all the inclinometers of the project before he comes back to office at the end of the day to down load the raw data readings logged in the readout box to the PC. It will take a few hours for the readings of the inclinometer to reach the user after it is taken
- 20. An added advantage for the data security to prevent unaware data alteration in the system to help Professional Engineers minimize their risks & liabilities
- 21. Current Data Flow Practice Readout Box and Computer for down loading Monitoring Engineer Process Report with justifiable adjustment Mistakes ? Care-less ? Forget ? Authority Consultant
- 22. Proposed Data Flow Security Central Server Monitoring Engineer Process Reports with justifiable adjustments Raw data kept intact using Parallel Information Flow for verification Processed Inclinometer Information Authority Consultant
- 23. Benefits of the Proposed System • The measured data is automatically plotted and email simultaneously to all stake holders • This processed information will be over- ride, if the monitoring engineer has correction with justifications • Unique User ID tagged to Readout Box to avoid mixed up information from various Readout Boxes and Files • Date & Time when the readings are carried out are Logged at the Server, & NOT using the clock of the Readout Box, which could be altered at Box level