Vibration Monitoring (Seismic) for Construction Activities

Seismic vibration monitoring is an essential tool for assessing and mitigating the impact of construction activities such as pile driving, excavation, demolition, and heavy equipment operation on adjoining structures. These activities can generate ground vibrations that, if not properly monitored and controlled, may cause structural or cosmetic damage to nearby buildings, heritage sites, utilities, or sensitive installations.

The primary metric used to quantify vibration intensity is Peak Particle Velocity (PPV), expressed in inches per second (ips). PPV represents the maximum velocity experienced by a point in a structure during a vibration event and serves as a reliable indicator of the potential for building distress or damage.

Seismograph Monitoring Setup

A seismograph or vibration monitoring unit is placed on or near the property line or adjoining structures to continuously record vibrations during construction activities. The equipment typically includes:

• Triaxial geophones to measure ground motion in three dimensions
  
• Real-time data logging and alert systems to detect exceedance of vibration thresholds
  
• Time-stamped event recording for correlating vibration data with specific construction operations