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Wireless Collection of Environmental and State-of-Health Data in Seismographic Networks

Description: 

Seismographic networks frequently incorporate the acquisition of data sources of related interest. For example, the Global Seismographic Network combines data acquired from infrasound and meteorological sensors. As a matter of practice, the physical connection of multiple data sources to data acquisition equipment requires significant systems engineering not to compromise the quality of acquired data through the introduction of ground loops and electrical interference. Various geophysical and environmental sensors, in general, are not physically co-located, resulting in complicated wiring and the need to protect wiring against physical damage, especially voltage transients induced by lightning. Since the primary seismological data are acquired with a dynamic range exceeding 150dB, low electrical noise in the acquisition system must not be compromised by adding related inputs. Therefore, using a secure, error-correcting protocol, the Q8 data acquisition system integrates additional data sources using low-power wireless transmission from multiple nodes. The implementation includes precision timing in each node and the ability for nodes to “relay” traffic in a mesh topology. The physical connection to the central acquisition unit is thus eliminated. Moreover, the sensors for additional data can be placed in their optimal physical location, e.g., weather and magnetometers away from local interference, or monitoring of PV arrays may be positioned at an outdoor site. The implementation accommodates up to 16 channels of information from up to 8 nodes, totaling 128 channels at up to 1 sample/sec. The transmission distance is up to 100m or more, depending on the antenna. The power consumed is in the mW range, compatible with ultra-low-power cycled modes of the Q8.

Session: Advancing Science With Global Seismological and Geophysical Networks

Type: Oral

Date: 4/18/2023

Presentation Time: 05:00 PM (local time)

Presenting Author: Mathias Franke

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors