Description
The ABEM Terraloc Pro 2 is a tough and versatile seismograph for geotechnical and structural assessment, geological survey and environmental studies. Common applications include locating bedrock and determining its strength, predicting the stability of materials ahead of construction, pile and foundation testing, and traditional geological mapping and exploration work.
Application areas
Ground investigation
A wide range of geotechnical information can be gathered using seismic methods: depth to bedrock, recording the strength and stability of materials, void location, and earthquake resilience are among the most common applications. Additionally, seismic velocities can be converted into common engineering parameters to provide a quantifiable result.
Geological exploration
Seismic survey has been used to map geological formations for many decades, most commonly by collecting refraction and reflection data. Tasks such as finding the contact between two different geological units, sequencing of layers, mapping structures and faults, and mineral exploration are well documented uses for seismic methods.
Borehole
Receivers and/or sources can be used within boreholes for uphole, downhole, crosshole and tomography surveys; this approach provides detail that is unachievable from surface measurement alone. Borehole accessories integrate directly with the Terraloc and can also be used to investigate specific subsurface structures such as concrete piles or foundations.
Features
A rugged standalone system for survey anywhere
IP66 protection, no need for an external computer and set-up wizards take the stress out of survey. A core principle for ABEM is to make dependable, easy to use instruments. A set-up wizard will help you get the right settings and surveys can be completed using only the instrument keypad: no PC, no peripherals, just the Terraloc, spread cables and geophones. This allows for efficient fieldwork with IP66 protection maintained throughout the survey.
Designed with a focus on data quality
Independent receiver circuits on every channel provide market leading data quality.
Outstanding dynamic range from high specification digitizers with selectable voltage ranges ensures the ABEM Terraloc Pro 2 is able to record everything from ‘a whisper to an explosion’. Isolated receiver circuits significantly reduce noise and on-board filtering and analysis tools provide efficient in-field quality assurance so there are no surprises upon returning to the office.
Versatile and Scaleable
The ABEM Terraloc Pro 2 offers the flexibility to undertake reflection, refraction, surface wave and borehole surveys with a scaleable hardware design to perfectly meet your needs.
Available in 12, 24 or 48 channel versions, these instruments can be upgraded to grow with your changing requirements. If you have two or more instruments, they can operate independently or be interconnected to further increase channel numbers when big projects come up. The system can operate with any type of seismic accessory to work in the widest range of applications.
Hardware
The Terraloc Pro 2 is the latest in a long line of seismic instruments from ABEM with a design that simplifies the process of collecting good quality data.
How you choose to collect that high quality data is up to you – the system can: use single and multi-component geophones, borehole accessories and hydrophones; operate with a range of sources from a simple hammer, to a vibration rig to explosives; record data appropriate for reflection, refraction or surface wave studies. And this broad capability is delivered in a rugged, go-anywhere one-box solution.
1. Available in 12, 24 and 48 channels (upgradeable)
2. Two additional reference channels
3. Interlink multiple units
4. Analogue or digital triggering
5. Hot swap batteries
6. 6mm shatterproof full-colour screen
7. IP66 housing with built-in GP
8. No external PC or peripherals required
Accessories
ABEM Vs30 Web App for Terraloc Pro 2
Vs30 is a method of analysing and categorising ground stability, ahead of construction and infrastructure products, to help with assessment of site suitability as well as foundation and structure design.
By measuring the average shear-wave velocity in the top 30m of the ground, Vs30 provides a reliable indicator of stability. It is a key parameter in international building codes for earthquake-prone areas but is also valuable for sites with dynamic loads, such as wind farms and rail lines. Vs30 analysis can be conducted using both physical and geophysical testing.
The ABEM Terraloc seismic instruments from Guideline Geo have always been able to undertake surface wave surveys, which produce the data required for Vs30 analysis. However, to make the process of collecting data easier, we are introducing the ABEM Vs30 Web App. This online guidance app provides:
- Step-by-step guide to instrument set-up and data collection
- Data examples for each shot location
- Troubleshooting guide to recognise and correct bad data
- Advice on follow-on steps for processing data
ABEM Power Adapter
Robust and stable power in the field
This powerful AC-DC adapter allows operators to run their ABEM instruments from an existing power network or a small ‘suitcase’-style generator. These generators weigh less than a typical high-capacity lead-acid battery, providing an option for prolonged power even in locations where recharging of batteries may be problematic. The ABEM Power Adapter is perfect for demanding field campaigns; it is fully waterproof and capable of providing a clean and stable 12V DC supply in excess of 30A from a 110V/230V AC (50 or 60 Hz) source. It would also suit monitoring and other unattended applications where there would be limited opportunities for changing over batteries.
In addition to the main power output, a waterproof auxiliary connector offers both 5V 2A and 12V 1A outputs, for custom accessories, plus an “operation OK” signal, useful for remote applications.
There are two versions of the ABEM Power Adapter: one is compatible with the original Terrameter LS and Terraloc Pro, whilst the other is compatible with the current Terrameter LS 2 and Terraloc Pro 2.
ABEM Transport Case
Transport and store your instrument securely
Protect your equipment in even the toughest of conditions. With the ABEM Transport Case you can be sure that your Terraloc Pro 2 is safely stored during transportation to and from the field. Industry-leading materials ensure a rugged dust and water proof case that can withstand the test of weather and time.
ABEM Wire-free trigger
Wire-free triggering for Terraloc products
Product specification: ABEM Wire-free trigger – PDF
The Seismic Radio Trigger provides an easy, cost-effective solution for wireless triggering of the Terraloc family of products, being compatible with Terraloc Mk 8 to Terraloc Pro 2 instruments. It can trigger manually on a single button press or communicate a trigger signal from another device. The system operates on license-free Lo-Ra frequencies and should be compatible with almost any source and trigger system.
Geophones and Hydrophones
You can connect virtually any type of sensor to the Terraloc Pro 2. From low- to high-frequency geophones, single-channel to multi-channel setups, tripod-mounted, marsh-cased, or single-spiked sensors, even arrays on a land streamer – the Terraloc supports them all. It also works seamlessly with single or multi-channel borehole geophones as well as both active and passive hydrophone strings.
Shear Wave Shot Plate
Knowing the seismic shear wave velocity beneath our feet is key to predicting ground stability. This is fundamental to many engineering tasks such as foundation design, predicting the ground response to stresses and loads from planned infrastructure, or for assessing earthquake resilience.
- Shear waves are seismic waves that move forward by oscillating sideways – i.e. shearing the ground.
- A shear wave seismic source is something that allows us to move the ground sideways; “shearing”.
The ABEM shear wave shot plate:
is heavy enough to stay stable and rooted to the ground (to allow good transfer of energy from a hammer blow) but remains relatively portable, especially when compared to a need for vehicle access or carrying a mechanical weight-drop.
is heavy enough to stay stable and rooted to the ground (to allow good transfer of energy from a hammer blow) but remains relatively portable, especially when compared to a need for vehicle access or carrying a mechanical weight-drop.- has a striking face on both sides to provide forward and backward shots.
- has a set of long spikes for soft ground and a set of micro spikes for asphalt, concrete and other hard surfaces.
- comes in a bespoke, hard-wearing wooden shipping crate.
- is an excellent source for down-hole seismic surveys.
Other options for generating shear waves are:
• Shear beam: a wooden block, half-buried or with long iron spikes driven through it into the ground, which the operator strikes on each end with a hammer. An alternative to burying it, or securing it with spikes, is to use a longer beam and drive a vehicle’s front wheels up onto block via sandbags or similar ramp:
Both methods require cumbersome equipment and time to set-up correctly; the latter also requires vehicle access.
• Accelerated weight drop (AWD): a large metal bar metal is driven into the ground, accelerated beyond what gravity alone could do by using pneumatics, elastic accumulators, or motor-driven chains. Basic examples only fire vertically (creating P-waves not shear waves) and those AWDs which can be angled, are generally more expensive. AWDs are heavy and require some form of power source – often a generator or large 12V battery.
• Vibration source: an electromechanical device that shakes the ground horizontally; very effective, but expensive if your survey requirements are relatively shallow.
Multiple Seismic Instruments Connected
Flexibility when you need it
For bigger projects, when more channels are required, multiple Terraloc units can be joined together to operate as one system. Arming and triggering can be handled and distributed from just one of the machines via lightweight interconnect cabling. It is possible to interconnect Terraloc Mk 8, Terraloc Pro and Terraloc Pro 2 instruments to form the hybrid system, making good use of even the older instruments in your fleet.
Contact us to learn more about the possibilities.