New Innovations

Zostrich Geotechnical specializes in thinking "outside the box". This encompasses both instrumentation as well as analytical solutions.

At present, we have several patent applications in process for innovations in TDR/OTDR monitoring. One of these is the displacement magnifying anchor for locating distributed failure in soft materials.

Ever thought about "seeing" through an active failure to determine the base shear plane? In terms of stabilizing an active failure, analysis requires that you know the base plane. TDR or OTDR can be utilized to "see through" the failure. See details under active failure monitoring on the menu to the right.

Ever wonder what the actual installed length of your soil nails or rock bolts were? By attaching a TDR cable to the support element before it is installed in the borehole, you can verify the installed length with TDR after installation. Works with OTDR too. One can even attach unique electronic serial numbers to each bolt. See the verified rock support brochure on the menu to the right.

Flash flood, debris flows, lahars.... What to they all have in common? They are all mass flow events that can, and do, kill and cause extreme property damage every year. Details are found under the mass flow warning header to the right.

The mass flow warning system is based upon multiple cascading events triggering an event threshold for a mass flow event. The small sensors utilized for this system include a gravitational tilt switch and a small GPS unit. This works well for locating subsidence in remote areas, as any change in the orientation of the sensors (or gross location) would be noted. For example, an array of these placed over an area where old stopes or sinkholes may break through could be quite useful.

Note that the innovations above are in varying stages of development. They may not be ready for commerical application at this time. If you are interested in assisting with development, please contact us.
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