Typical Borehole and Seismometer Installation
The typical AQUINAS field installation includes the drilling of a 4 to 6 inch diameter borehole with a depth that varies depending on the application and requirements.
Within the borehole, the monitoring sensor (i.e., seismometer) is lowered to the bottom. The AIM24S digitizer and AIMA-PC data authenticator are also placed in the borehole. The digitizer converts the analog seismic data obtained from the sensor into a digital signal, and in turn passes it on to the authenticator for signing. Once the data is received at a collection center for analysis, its authenticity can be confirmed using this signature.
A GPS clock at the surface is used for system timing. In addition, environmental data may be collected using an optional weather station also at the surface.
The data frames, signatures, and weather data from each borehole installation are all transmitted to a CIM3, which acts as a traffic cop for the array, telling each borehole installation when it may speak and for how long, depending on available bandwidth. The CIM3 in turn feeds the multiplexed data to a Station Processor for databasing, analysis, and forwarding via the CD1.x protocol to one or more data centers.
Power for each borehole installation is provided by a landline source or, as in this example, via a solar power collection site.