Advances in seismic monitoring technologies

Abstract

There have been several significant advances in seismic monitoring technologies and methods applied in mines in the past decade. Ranging from optical vibration sensors, through to low power and small footprint nodal sensor technologies, to imaging methods using induced seismicity and ambient noise. These new technologies and methods are starting to be applied to a range of applications in the underground mining environment. To support the ever-widening range of applications, seismic instrumentation and monitoring systems are evolving. We discuss some of the more significant developments, such as combining conventional sensors with more exotic sensors to produce hybrid sensors, and how nodal sensing technologies have inspired more portable and lower-power hardware. Some examples of recent products from the Institute of Mine Seismology (IMS) stable are presented to demonstrate these new acquisition technologies and finally, a few real-world application examples are presented which showcase how novel data collection and processing methodologies are being used in underground mines by IMS.