Portable Broadband Portable Broadband

SeismologySeismology

Jakarta, IndonesiaMay 11-13, 2006

Bruce BeaudoinMarcos Alvarez

Part 8: Best Field Practices

Pre-deployment Equipment QA

• QA all of your equipment in a controlled, lab environment prior to deployment.

• Test your recording parameters in the lab.

• Know your equipment:– Be familiar with your installation plan.

– Practice setting up a station in the lab and in a simulated field environment.

Prepare• Develop deployment and servicing sheets.

– Know the metadata you will require before you are in the field.

• A well stocked tool box is a must.

• Think spares, especially small items that can be misplaced.

• Identify and collect the construction materials you will need for your seismic station.

• Far from human-generated noise (roads and machinery)

• In a temperature-stable environment

• Far from the ocean

• On solid (competent) rock

• Sky view

• Good Drainage

• Secure

Site Selection

Vault & Site Construction

• Provide sensor coupling to Earth

• Protect the instruments:

– Flooding

– Temperature fluctuations

– Animals

• Secure

Field Practices

• Take comprehensive field notes.• If it is not documented, it didn’t happen

• Take your time.

• Make sure you will record useful data.The “Fort Five”

– Do you have power?

– Does the seismometer produce signal?

– Is your instrument programmed correctly?

– Do you have timing?

– Is your data being telemetered or stored on-site?

Monitor Your Site & Data

• Monitor your sensor outputs before you close the vault and/or leave the site.

• Do a service run within 2 weeks of the initial deployment.

• Monitor your state-of-health channels.

• Look at waveforms.