Our Services
Blast Monitoring
Detecht consultants have been monitoring blasts for over 9 years, recording ground vibrations, airblast pressures, and structure response. These measurements can be used to show compliance with local regulations and to assist blasters in design for protection of buildings and infrastructure. Our consultants can travel to any site for single-day monitoring or deploy remote telemetry systems which can continually monitor vibrations for several months. We have deployed monitors a mile underground and 30 stories off the ground, no site is too difficult.
Structure Condition Surveys
Clear documentation of structure conditions prior to blasting or construction is important for all stakeholders. Detecht consultants have performed over 1,000 surveys of homes, offices, wharfs, and other large structures. We take high-resolution still pictures, often hundreds, to record every crack and defect in a structure to detail the current state of a building. We can also document project corridors, streets, walls, and utilities with careful video recording practices. As a third party, Detecht keeps records in strict confidence, maintained for any future reference.
Protecting Critical INfrastructure
Our consultants have extensively studied and published on pipeline response to blast vibrations and subsurface transmission of seismic waves, including the PhD dissertation of our chief engineer, Brent. Our team is experienced with blasting near dams, nuclear power plants, and sensitive government facilities, as well as buried wires and fiber optics. We use strain gauges, vibration sensors, tiltmeters, and borehole geophones to provide peace of mind to stakeholders of critical infrastructure near blasting and construction projects. Our team’s qualifications meet requirements for expert, 3rd party monitoring on high-risk projects.
Seismograph rental and Sales
Detecht is a registered distributor of seismographs for White Industrial Seismology and maintains a fleet of blasting-type seismographs. We can rent monitoring equipment including specialized sensors, provide training on their use, or arrange purchase of instrumentation as needed.
Open air Blast Pressure measurements
Open air detonations require specialized pressure instrumentation with extremely fast sample rates and high dynamic ranges. Detecht can provide such instrumentation for reflected or side-on pressure measurements and has research experience in evaluating shock reflections and dynamic loading of structures.
Construction Monitoring
Vibrations and noise from construction equipment such as vibratory rollers, pile drivers, and rock hammers can be a concern to neighbors. Detecht consultants have years of experience monitoring construction activities to develop site-specific attenuation models which characterize vibrations from each specific roller or hammer. These models dictate safe operating distances to various structures to ensure protection of all comprising materials such as drywall or stucco. Additionally, we can monitor construction noise to ensure compliance with local ordinances.
Noise Monitoring
Environmental noise is strictly regulated and frequently discussed by neighbors to construction activities or industrial machinery. Detecht can provide telemetry dBA noise monitoring services at property boundaries to show compliance with local noise ordinances or measure machinery noise levels for occupational safety. Knowledge of long-term noise amplitude can inform PPE requirements for worker safety. We can also perform a detailed noise study with 1/3 octave frequency analysis to aid in design of noise mitigation measures if necessary.
Structure response monitoring
When vibration effects on structures are a concern, Detecht can install instruments in and around buildings to measure response to blasting or construction activities. We have a variety of equipment and methods to monitor structure health including vibration sensors, dynamic or static crack gauges, global strain computations, local strain gauges, dynamic tiltmeters, and accelerometers. Our consultants participated in structure response research that led to construction/blasting code changes in large municipalities and earned the paper of the year award from the International Society of Explosives Engineers.
Underwater blast monitoring
Detecht has the equipment and experience to monitor underwater blasting projects involving pier demolition or rock excavation. We have published articles on instrumentation best practices and strive to protect marine wildlife, further blasting science, and comply with regulations and specs.
Applied Research
Detecht consultants are eager to gather data for scientific purposes and strive to further the knowledge of the blasting and construction industries. We can design an instrumentation scheme to achieve a wide variety of goals and can assist with complex analysis. Our consultants have authored many peer-reviewed papers and scientific reports.
Specialized Instrumentation
Detecht offers a wide range of instrumentation to measure almost anything for your project needs. We can make detailed measurements of vibrations in terms of velocity, acceleration, strain, or displacement. We are also uniquely outfitted to measure pressure in a variety of situations with sensors capable of water or air measurements from 0.01 to 10,000 psi. Whether you need to reduce motor vibrations in a sensitive environment, require detailed records of explosive air shocks, or want to see crack motion to the micro-inch, we have the ability to get the data.
Risk Mitigation
Blasting, construction, and demolition are inherently risky endeavors. We work closely with blasters, project managers, and equipment operators to protect critical structures, wildlife, and people while minimizing off-site impacts. Our extremely detailed measurement data and photo documentation reduce project risks and can be used to address damage claims. Attenuation modelling, test blasting programs, and explosive evaluations are used by Detecht in conjunction with blasting companies to ensure safe blasting practices and to show regulation compliance.
Vibration Damage Claims assessment
Detecht consultants can expertly evaluate damage claims relating to blasting or construction vibrations. We use a scientific approach when predicting worst-case vibration amplitudes affecting structures and then compare to scientific literature to ascertain the possibility of damage. On-site vibration data is preferred and Detecht can take measurements to make a data-driven evaluation of damage potential or review monitoring done by others. Our team has experience in expert witness consulting and can competently speak about cracking potential from vibrations or educate stakeholders on the science of structure response.
Underground Blast monitoring
Underground environments are challenging for instrumentation deployment, communication, and maintenance. Detecht developed custom networking solutions and utilizes high-pressure microphones for underground telemetry blast monitoring and mine infrastructure protection.