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Neil Dixon
Neil
Dixon
M.P. Spriggs
M.P.
Spriggs
Philip Meldrum
Philip
Meldrum
R. Ogilvy
R.
Ogilvy
Edward Haslam
Edward
Haslam
J. Chambers
J.
Chambers
Development of a low cost acoustic emission early warning system for slope instability
Loughborough University
2012
untagged
Built Environment and Design not elsewhere classified
2012-08-14 11:40:00
Conference contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/Development_of_a_low_cost_acoustic_emission_early_warning_system_for_slope_instability/9428783
Slope failures world-wide cause many thousands of deaths each year and damage
built environment infrastructure. There is a clear need for low cost instrumentation that can provide
an early warning of slope instability to enable evacuation of vulnerable people and timely
repair and maintenance of critical infrastructure. Current instrumentation systems are either too
expensive for wide scale use or have technical limitations. An approach, Assessment of Landslides
using Acoustic Real-time Monitoring Systems (ALARMS), has been developed and
demonstrated through research. An approach has been developed using measurement of acoustic
emission generated during the onset of slope failure to provide quantitative information on slope
displacement rates. Research is in progress to develop low cost acoustic sensors. A unitary
acoustic emission slope displacement rate sensor has been designed and is being trialled in an
active landslide. Continuous monitored acoustic emission rates show comparable trends to displacement
rates measured using an inclinometer. Acoustic emission increase after rainfall events
and this is considered to indicate increased displacement rates.