Assessment of Landslides using Acoustic Real-time Monitoring Systems (ALARMS): Sensor Technical Development
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Civil and Building Engineering
Abstract
Slope failures annually cause many thousands of deaths and damage built environment infrastructure world-wide. There is an urgent 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. This project aims to design and assess field performance of a prototype acoustic slope displacement rate sensor. Sensors developed through research will be re-engineered and these new sensors will be installed at problem road and rail slopes to investigate how they perform compared to traditional more costly instrumentation.
Organisations
- Loughborough University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Geotechnical Observations (Collaboration)
- Italian National Research Council (Collaboration)
- Queen's University (Collaboration)
- Canadian Pacific Railway (Collaboration)
- Datalink Electronics (Collaboration)
- National Research Council (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Science Malaysia (Collaboration)
- Thurber Engineering Ltd (Collaboration)
- INGLAS GmbH & Co. KG (Collaboration)
- Network Rail (Collaboration)
- University of Alberta (Collaboration)
- Scarborough Borough Council (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- CH2M HILL (Collaboration)
- Parsons Brinckerhoff (Collaboration)
- British Geological Survey (Collaboration)
- MONMOUTHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Canadian National Railway (Collaboration)
- Government of Alberta (Collaboration)
- Family Health International (Collaboration)
- Government of Malaysia (Collaboration)
- Environment Agency (Collaboration)
- SlopeWatch (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Neil Dixon (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Codeglia D
(2017)
Analysis of acoustic emission patterns for monitoring of rock slope deformation mechanisms
in Engineering Geology
Codeglia D
(2015)
Strategies for rock slope failure early warning using acoustic emission monitoring
in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Dixon N
(2015)
Stability monitoring of a rail slope using acoustic emission
in Proceedings of the ICE - Geotechnical Engineering
Dixon N
(2014)
Quantification of reactivated landslide behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring
in Landslides
Dixon, N
(2012)
Field trial of an acoustic emission early warning system for slope instability.
in -
Heather-Smith H
(2018)
Monitoring buried infrastructure deformation using acoustic emissions
Neil Dixon (Author)
(2012)
Field trial of an acoustic emission early warning system for slope instability.
| Description | This project resulted in a revised design of the Slope ALARMS sesnor that requires less power (with collaborating partner British Geological Survey). It also extended the number of field trials of the sensor and compared performance with traditional deformation monitoring methods. Additional sensors have been installed at a large rock slide complex in the Italian Alps in collaboration with CNR, Italy, and monitoring has detected deformation events in response to rainfall events. In addition, monitoring at a Network Rail cutting, an Environment Agency flood embankment and at a coastal landslides with CH2M (now Jacobs) has demonstrated the robustness of the measurement technique and provided proof that the Slope ALARMS sensors can detect periods of slope deformation and indicate displacement rates. The success of this project has led to development of the Community Slope SAFE sensors that are specifically designed for use on low and middle income countries where loss of life from landslides is high. Demonstrated performance of the Slope ALARMS sensors enabled optimisation of the Community Slope SAFE system for very low cost. A design has been completed and sensors systems manufactured. A trial of the sensors is in progress in Malaysia with a community group with the system installed on a slope in March 2017, and a second trial slope site was instrumented in Myanmar in March 2018. This second trial included training youths in the community to maintain the system. |
| Exploitation Route | Slope ALARMS has the potential to become a standard monitoring approach for detecting landslides. A project has been completed with German company INGLAS to develop and trial a slope monitoring system, incorporating Slope ALARMS, for the Austrian Railways. Discussions are in progress with potential collaborators around the world to carry out further site trials. The very low cost Community Slope SAFE sensor system that has resulted from the success of the Slope ALARMS system could make a significant impact by saving lives in low and middle income countries that currently can't afford to monitor unstable slopes. The technology and knowhow developed through this and associated research projects has been licensed by Loughborough University to RST Instruments Ltd. RST will further develop, manufacture and distribute acoustic emission slope monitoring systems world-wide, with sales commencing in 2019. |
| Sectors | Construction,Environment,Transport |
| URL | http://www.slopealarms.co.uk |
| Description | Outputs from trial sites of both the Slope ALARMS and Community Slope SAFE systems developed have been used by stakeholders in UK, Italy, Austria, Malaysia and Canada to manage problem slopes and they have demonstrated to end users the benefits of the new approach that has been developed. Loughborough University have now licensed the technology and knowhow to RST Instruments Ltd who will further develop, manufacture and distribute acoustic emission slope monitoring systems world-wide, including in low and middle income countries where loss of life from landslides is highest. It is anticipated that sales of sensor systems will commence in 2019, facilitating take up of the technology developed through the research. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Construction,Environment,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Assessment, Costing and enHancement of long lIfe, Long Linear assEtS (ACHILLES) |
| Amount | £4,872,904 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R034575/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | Community Slope SAFE: Design for Manufacture |
| Amount | £47,532 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Community Slope SAFE: Malaysia Field Trial |
| Amount | £26,615 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | European Commision Pre-commercial procurement |
| Amount | € 58,105 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Austrian Research Promotion Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Austria |
| Start | 02/2013 |
| End | 05/2016 |
| Description | Loughborough University |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Enterprise Project Group |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2012 |
| End | 10/2012 |
| Description | Slope ALARMS 'Lite': Protecting Vulnerable Global Communities |
| Amount | £110,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2013 |
| End | 09/2015 |
| Description | Acoustic emission monitoring of a tunnel in the Eastern Italian Alps |
| Organisation | Italian National Research Council |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of instrumentation and ongoing support. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding of waveguide installation. Staff time to support the works. |
| Impact | None to date. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Geotechnical Observations Ltd |
| Organisation | Geotechnical Observations |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Landslide monitoring and early warning, Hakha, Myanmar, using the Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Datalink Electronics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datalink were contracted to manufacture the Community Slope SAFE sensor systems. FHI360 are contributing to the field work, project meetings and workshops. |
| Impact | Initial phase of trial in progress, no impact yet. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Landslide monitoring and early warning, Hakha, Myanmar, using the Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Family Health International |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datalink were contracted to manufacture the Community Slope SAFE sensor systems. FHI360 are contributing to the field work, project meetings and workshops. |
| Impact | Initial phase of trial in progress, no impact yet. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Landslide monitoring and early warning, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using the Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Datalink Electronics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datalink were contracted to manufacture the Community Slope SAFE sensor systems. JKR, SlopeWatch and USM are contributing to the field work, project meetings and workshops. |
| Impact | Engagement and increased awareness of landslide monitoring and early warning. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Landslide monitoring and early warning, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using the Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Government of Malaysia |
| Department | Malaysian Public Works Department |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datalink were contracted to manufacture the Community Slope SAFE sensor systems. JKR, SlopeWatch and USM are contributing to the field work, project meetings and workshops. |
| Impact | Engagement and increased awareness of landslide monitoring and early warning. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Landslide monitoring and early warning, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using the Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | SlopeWatch |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datalink were contracted to manufacture the Community Slope SAFE sensor systems. JKR, SlopeWatch and USM are contributing to the field work, project meetings and workshops. |
| Impact | Engagement and increased awareness of landslide monitoring and early warning. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Landslide monitoring and early warning, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using the Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | University of Science Malaysia |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Community Slope SAFE acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datalink were contracted to manufacture the Community Slope SAFE sensor systems. JKR, SlopeWatch and USM are contributing to the field work, project meetings and workshops. |
| Impact | Engagement and increased awareness of landslide monitoring and early warning. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Monitoring of an Environment Agency flood embankment, South Ferriby, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Environment Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | EA funded the installation of the instrumentation. They also provided staff time to support the work and attend project meetings. |
| Impact | Low cost real-time slope monitoring to inform risk management for the protection of people and infrastructure. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Monitoring the BIONICS embankment, Newcastle, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Department | School of Engineering and Computing Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Both Durham and Newcastle supported the field work activities and are involved in project meetings. |
| Impact | PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Monitoring the BIONICS embankment, Newcastle, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Department | School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Both Durham and Newcastle supported the field work activities and are involved in project meetings. |
| Impact | PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Monitoring the Flat Cliffs and Scarborough Spa slopes, North Yorkshire, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | CH2M HILL |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SBC provided funds for the boreholes at both the Scarborough Spa and Flat Cliffs sites, in which the Slope ALARMS systems were installed. CH2M provided in-kind support through staff time for project meetings and field data collection. |
| Impact | Conference paper: Performance of an acoustic emission monitoring system to detect subsurface ground movement at Flat Cliffs, North Yorkshire, UK. PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring. Journal article: Photographic feature: Acoustic emission monitoring of coastal slopes in NE England, UK |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Monitoring the Flat Cliffs and Scarborough Spa slopes, North Yorkshire, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Scarborough Borough Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SBC provided funds for the boreholes at both the Scarborough Spa and Flat Cliffs sites, in which the Slope ALARMS systems were installed. CH2M provided in-kind support through staff time for project meetings and field data collection. |
| Impact | Conference paper: Performance of an acoustic emission monitoring system to detect subsurface ground movement at Flat Cliffs, North Yorkshire, UK. PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring. Journal article: Photographic feature: Acoustic emission monitoring of coastal slopes in NE England, UK |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Monitoring the Grossreifling slope, Austria, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | INGLAS GmbH & Co. KG |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Inglas provided support for the field work activities and have attended project meetings/workshops. |
| Impact | Conference paper: Strategies for rock slope failure early warning using acoustic emission monitoring |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Monitoring the Hollin Hill landslide, North Yorkshire, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BGS provided in-kind support through staff time for field work, project meetings/workshops and development of publications. |
| Impact | Journal papers: Acoustic emission monitoring of a soil slope: Comparisons with continuous deformation measurements Quantification of reactivated landslide behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring Assessment of ground-based monitoring techniques applied to landslide investigations Inclinometer casings retrofitted with acoustic real-time monitoring systems Reconstruction of landslide movements by inversion of 4D electrical resistivity tomography monitoring data Conference papers: An acoustic emission slope displacement rate sensor - case studies Acoustic emission monitoring of active waveguides to quantify slope stability PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Monitoring the Passo della Morte landslide, north-east Italy, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | National Research Council |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | CNR funded the drilling of the boreholes, in which the Slope ALARMS systems were installed. They also supported ongoing field work activities and attended meetings. |
| Impact | Conference paper: An acoustic emission slope displacement rate sensor - case studies |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Monitoring the Peace River landslide, Alberta, Canada, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Government of Alberta |
| Department | Ministry of Transportation |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Queen's University provided time to help with the field work and participated in regular project meetings. Alberta Transportation provided funds for the borehole drilling, in which the instrumentation was installed. Thurber Engineering provided time to help with the field work and ongoing maintenance of the system at the site, and made arrangements to facilitate Dr Alister Smith's visits to Canada to perform the field work. Thurber also provided materials for the installation and participate in project meetings. |
| Impact | Conference paper: Listening for Landslides: Method, Measurements and the Peace River Case Study Journal paper: Correlation of acoustic emissions with patterns of movement in an extremely slow moving landslide at Peace River, Alberta, Canada |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Monitoring the Peace River landslide, Alberta, Canada, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Queen's University |
| Department | Faculty of Civil Engineering |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Queen's University provided time to help with the field work and participated in regular project meetings. Alberta Transportation provided funds for the borehole drilling, in which the instrumentation was installed. Thurber Engineering provided time to help with the field work and ongoing maintenance of the system at the site, and made arrangements to facilitate Dr Alister Smith's visits to Canada to perform the field work. Thurber also provided materials for the installation and participate in project meetings. |
| Impact | Conference paper: Listening for Landslides: Method, Measurements and the Peace River Case Study Journal paper: Correlation of acoustic emissions with patterns of movement in an extremely slow moving landslide at Peace River, Alberta, Canada |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Monitoring the Peace River landslide, Alberta, Canada, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Thurber Engineering Ltd |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Queen's University provided time to help with the field work and participated in regular project meetings. Alberta Transportation provided funds for the borehole drilling, in which the instrumentation was installed. Thurber Engineering provided time to help with the field work and ongoing maintenance of the system at the site, and made arrangements to facilitate Dr Alister Smith's visits to Canada to perform the field work. Thurber also provided materials for the installation and participate in project meetings. |
| Impact | Conference paper: Listening for Landslides: Method, Measurements and the Peace River Case Study Journal paper: Correlation of acoustic emissions with patterns of movement in an extremely slow moving landslide at Peace River, Alberta, Canada |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Monitoring the Players Crescent cutting landslide, Southampton, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Geotechnical Observations |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geotechnical Observations provided in-kind support through time attending meetings and helping with field work, and they also provided field instrumentation to support the project (e.g. SAA). Network Rail provided in-kind support through helping with the field work. |
| Impact | Journal paper: Stability monitoring of a rail slope using acoustic emission PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Monitoring the Players Crescent cutting landslide, Southampton, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geotechnical Observations provided in-kind support through time attending meetings and helping with field work, and they also provided field instrumentation to support the project (e.g. SAA). Network Rail provided in-kind support through helping with the field work. |
| Impact | Journal paper: Stability monitoring of a rail slope using acoustic emission PhD thesis: Quantification of slope deformation behaviour using acoustic emission monitoring |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Monitoring the Ripley landslide, British Columbia, Canada, using Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Canadian National Railway |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring system. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Alberta provided time (staff and students) to help with the field work, and made arrangements to facilitate Dr Alister Smith's visit to Canada to perform the field work. Canadian National Railway provided funds for materials, travel and subsistence for Alister to complete the field installation. They also provided staff time to support the field work. Canadian Pacific Railway provided staff time to support the field work. All collaborators participate in periodic project workshops. |
| Impact | No outputs as of yet. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Monitoring the Ripley landslide, British Columbia, Canada, using Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring system. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Alberta provided time (staff and students) to help with the field work, and made arrangements to facilitate Dr Alister Smith's visit to Canada to perform the field work. Canadian National Railway provided funds for materials, travel and subsistence for Alister to complete the field installation. They also provided staff time to support the field work. Canadian Pacific Railway provided staff time to support the field work. All collaborators participate in periodic project workshops. |
| Impact | No outputs as of yet. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Monitoring the Ripley landslide, British Columbia, Canada, using Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | University of Alberta |
| Department | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring system. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations at workshops and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Alberta provided time (staff and students) to help with the field work, and made arrangements to facilitate Dr Alister Smith's visit to Canada to perform the field work. Canadian National Railway provided funds for materials, travel and subsistence for Alister to complete the field installation. They also provided staff time to support the field work. Canadian Pacific Railway provided staff time to support the field work. All collaborators participate in periodic project workshops. |
| Impact | No outputs as of yet. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Monitoring the Ruthlin Mill and Duffryn Cottages landslides, Wales, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Monmouthshire County Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | MMC provided £2000 for the field installations of Slope ALARMS at the two sites. They also provided staff time to support the work and attend project meetings. Parsons provided in-kind support to help with planning the field work and to attend project meetings. |
| Impact | Low cost real-time slope monitoring to inform risk management for the protection of people and infrastructure. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Monitoring the Ruthlin Mill and Duffryn Cottages landslides, Wales, UK, using the Slope ALARMS acoustic emission system |
| Organisation | Parsons Brinckerhoff |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Supply of Slope ALARMS acoustic emission monitoring systems. Field work for installation of the instrumentation and ongoing support services. Presentations and contributions to project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | MMC provided £2000 for the field installations of Slope ALARMS at the two sites. They also provided staff time to support the work and attend project meetings. Parsons provided in-kind support to help with planning the field work and to attend project meetings. |
| Impact | Low cost real-time slope monitoring to inform risk management for the protection of people and infrastructure. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | NERC British Geological Survey |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Start Year | 2005 |
| Title | Monitoring soil slope displacement rate by detecting acoustic emissions |
| Description | An apparatus for monitoring soil slope (A) displacement rate comprises a sensor locatable on an active waveguide (E) partially buried in the soil to detect acoustic emissions transmitted through the waveguide as a result of soil displacement. The apparatus also includes a processor which analyses the detected acoustic emissions to determine a ring down count (RDC) rate, compares the RDC rate with a predetermined trigger value, and generates an alert when the RDC rate exceeds the predetermined trigger value. There is a predetermined relationship between RDC rate and soil slope displacement rate and the RDC rate thus provides a direct indication of the soil slope displacement rate. The processor may also determine the rate of change of the RDC rate and hence the soil slope displacement rate. |
| IP Reference | GB2467419 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2010 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | We have licensed Slope ALARMS and Community Slope SAFE to RST Instruments Ltd who will further develop, manufacture and distribute the sensors world-wide, maximising economic and societal impact. |
| Title | Monitoring soil slope displacement rate by detecting acoustic emissions |
| Description | An apparatus for monitoring soil slope (A) displacement rate comprises a sensor locatable on an active waveguide (E) partially buried in the soil to detect acoustic emissions transmitted through the waveguide as a result of soil displacement. The apparatus also includes a processor which analyses the detected acoustic emissions to determine a ring down count (RDC) rate, compares the RDC rate with a predetermined trigger value, and generates an alert when the RDC rate exceeds the predetermined trigger value. There is a predetermined relationship between RDC rate and soil slope displacement rate and the RDC rate thus provides a direct indication of the soil slope displacement rate. The processor may also determine the rate of change of the RDC rate and hence the soil slope displacement rate. |
| IP Reference | GB2467419 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2010 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Public engagement through Discovery Channel film on the technique. |
| Description | India Landslide Workshop: Keynote presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presented invited opening keynote at the Mastermind Session on Landslide Hazards in India Workshop, January 2019. The event was organised by the National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. Workshop participants comprised India Government policy makers and India leading academic researchers. The aim of the workshop was to develop a national landslide programme for India. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at Queen's University, Canada |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Listening to Infrastructure and Slope ALARMS research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation at the University of Birmingham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Listening to Infrastructure and Slope ALARMS research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation at the University of Cambridge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Listening to Infrastructure and Slope ALARMS research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at the University of Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Listening to Infrastructure and Slope ALARMS research by Alister Smith. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Short film made to publicise shortlisting for a Loughborough University Enterprise award decided by public vote |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our research to develop a low cost acoustic emission landslide monitoring system, with specific relevance to communities in low and middle income countries, was shortlisted for a Loughborough University Enterprise award. The award is decided on a public vote. A short film was made to explain and promote the research undertaken and impact being developed. This film was made to inform the general public as well as potential users and supporters of the approach. The nomination received over 1000 on-line votes from around the world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.lboro.ac.uk/enterprise/enterprise-awards/one-to-watch/safe/ |
| Description | Slope ALARMS Enterprise Film Loughborough University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Loughborough University created an Enterprise film on Slope ALARMS, in which Professor Dixon and Dr Smith featured, as a way to engage wider audiences with the research project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBf24DlPSdw |
| Description | Televised film for BBCs Inside Out programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The BBC decided to produce a film on landslide early warning in response to landslides in the UK during the winter of 2015-2016. Alister was interviewed and he demonstrated Slope ALARMS - this was filmed at one of our field trial sites in North Yorkshire, UK. The film aired on UK national television. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b071y2b9/inside-out-yorkshire-and-lincolnshire-22022016 |
| Description | Televised film for Discovery Channels Daily Planet programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Discovery Channel decided to produce a film on landslide early warning in response to the Oso landslide disaster. We demonstrated Slope ALARMS and filmed three of our field trial sites in North Yorkshire, UK. The film aired on Canada national television. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.slopealarms.com/ |