Modern sensors and instrumentation are used to monitor certain natural elements and processes, and vulnerable or large complicated man-made structures.

New technology is constantly expanding the limits of what can be measured and monitored. In recent years, wireless transmission of measurement data has become possible as well as data acquisition via satellites.

NGI'state-of-the-art expertise

• instrumentation technology and selection of sensors and monitoring methods
• data transmission, analysis and presentation, as well as early warning technology
• scientific knowledge on the behaviour of geo- and construction materials, natural hazards, pollution and climatic conditions

Services related to instrumentation and monitoring

With a broad and comprehensive scientific professional environment, not only in the geosciences and instrumentation, but also in mechanical fabrication and equipment development, computer science and physics, we have a unique starting point, from which to develop new methods for instrumentation and monitoring .

Current challenges are concerned with instrumented monitoring of buildings and infrastructure for systematic safety surveillance. NGI focuses on the use of instrumentation during the construction phase and is able to collect measurement data to monitor structures to verify design behaviour and alert if abnormal or unexpected events occur.

Instrumented monitoring often follows the lifecycle of the structures. Examples of this are extensive instrumentation of earth- or rock-fill dams in Norway and and the gravity base platforms in the North Sea.

Other areas in which our expertise are used are the monitoring of infrastructure such as bridges, damage caused by natural hazards in the form of earthquakes and landslides, environmental pollution and surveillance, vibrations and noise, mapping of local weather and climactic conditions and special investigations of ground conditions in soil and rock.

Research and development
NGI's instrumentation research is currently focused on new and better wireless monitoring systems. New research on remote sensing and surveillance, where satellites continuously transmit data to terrestial monitoring stations, enables effective monitoring of large areas and over great distances.

Research is additionally being conducted on:

• measurement of gas in offshore sediments
• use of fibre-optic monitoring techniques and micro-seismics to monitor rock fall and slides in tunnels
• use of radar data via satellites for rock fall, landslide and avalanche assessments and the monitoring of large structures.