Networking dataTakers

Customer Requirement

To monitor ground movement or subsidence around a copper mine which is generally unstable, for the safety of miners and machinery. Early warning of danger situations is essential.

Equipment

• DT515 data logger
• Channel Expansion Modules
• Full Bridge Extensometers
• Hollow Inclusion Cells

dataTaker Solution

dataTaker DT515 data loggers with two Channel Expansion Modules were arranged in three groups, giving a total of 90 differential channels. The three groups are spread out through the mine, and are linked together by the dataTaker's builtin network.

The data loggers collect information from an array of extensometers and Hollow inclusion cells, and periodically transmit the data to a PC on the surface for analysis by custom software.

The PC is located 3 km from the installation, and so a RS485 communications link from the dataTakernetwork was installed.