Welcome to the ABEM Vs30 Guidance Tool

This step-by-step guide will take you through the process of collecting quality seismic data to undertake Vs30 analysis. This guide is optimized for mobile devices.

NOTE: Vs30 surveys require 4.5Hz vertical geophones

With the set-up wizard on the screen of the instrument, click start, below

 

START

Settings and field procedures are based on recommendations published by Park et al.
Click for more information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Step 1a:   Instrument Settings

Select 24 channels in the Terraloc Set-up Wizard
(use single cable option for 48 channel instruments)

Select Vs30 from the drop-down menu
Select the green “NEXT” button

 

 

NEXT STEP >

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Step 1b:   Instrument Settings

On the second page of the Terraloc Set-up Wizard, select 2m geophone spacing and hammer source
Press “OK”

 

 

NEXT STEP >

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Step 2:   Cable / Geophone Layout

This is a generic layout for a Vs30
measurement with 24 geophones.

If you have a 48 channel instrument,
use only the first cable to provide 24 channels.

Geophone spacing should be 2 metres

 

 

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Step 3a:   First Shot Position / Trigger Connection

 

Place shot plate 48m from
Geophone 1

 

Trigger connection via trigger wire

Place a spare geophone next to the shot plate and connect to the trigger reel. The far-end of the trigger reel should be plugged into the “Analog. Trig In” trigger connection on the instrument end-panel.

It is possible to use a wireless trigger connection, see here for more information.

 

NEXT STEP >

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Place shot plate 48m from Geophone 1

Trigger connection via trigger wire

Place a spare geophone next to the shot plate and connect to the trigger reel. The far-end of the trigger reel should be plugged into the “Analog. Trig In” trigger connection on the instrument end-panel.

It is possible to use a wireless trigger connection, see here for more information.

 

NEXT STEP >

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Step 3b:   Set-up Layout Geometry

Open the Layout Geometry window by pressing 6 on the front panel of the instrument

Enter shot position  x: -48m

NEXT STEP >

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Step 4:   1st Shot

Example shot record from a -48m off-end shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

 

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Step 5:   2nd Shot

Update shot position to -24m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Example shot record from a -24m off-end shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 6:   3rd Shot

Update shot position to -12m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Example shot record from a -12m off-end shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 7:   4th Shot

Update shot position to -2m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Example shot record from a -2m off-end shot

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 8a:   5th Shot

Place shot plate 2m from the last geophone

Enter shot position as 48m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Remember: the distance entered is from the first geophone (0m in the spread)

NEXT STEP >

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Step 8b:   5th Shot

Example shot record from a 2m off-end (48m) shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 9:   6th Shot

Update shot position to 58m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Example shot record from a 12m off-end shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 10:   7th Shot

Update shot position to 70m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Example shot record from a 24m off-end shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 11:   8th Shot

Update shot position to 94m in Layout Geometry
(press 6 on the front panel)
Example shot record from a 48m off-end shot:

Data look different? Try our Troubleshooting Guide

NEXT STEP >

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Step 12:   Transfer Data

Using an Android device?

Connect your phone via USB to the Terraloc Pro 2 and allow access on your device. The Terraloc will see your device as an external storage location, use the CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW shortcut to access the file explorer and move files across.

Using ALT + TAB  will take you back to the Terraloc Pro 2 software.

 

Using a USB drive and PC

Connect your USB drive to the Terraloc Pro 2 and this will be used as the destination for the Quick Backup function on the instrument.

 

 

NEXT STEP >

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Step 13:   Process / Analyze Data

Processing requires 3rd party inversion software such as Geogiga

Contact us for more information on processing packages

 

NEXT STEP >

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Step 14:   Generic Processing Workflow

The 8 shots are processed individually, each creating a velocity model, these results are correlated to generate a combined velocity model, summarised by the Vs30 value.

IMPORT DATA
& QUALITY CHECK
|
GENERATE
DISPERSION CURVES
|
PICK THE LINE
OF THE CURVE
|
RUN INVERSION ON
THE PICKED CURVE
|
COMBINE RESULTS TO GENERATE
AVERAGE VELOCITY MODEL
|
COMPARE Vs30 VALUE
AGAINST AGREED STANDARD

(after BSSC, 1997*)

 

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*Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), 1997, NEHRP, recommended provisions for seismic regulations for new buildings, Part 1-Provisions (FEMA Federal emergency Management Agency 302), 290 p.