California High Speed Rail
Project
The California High Speed Rail system will connect San Francisco to Los Angeles with trains traveling up to 220 mph on grade-separated track.
(Rendering courtesy of California High Speed Rail Authority)
GEO-Instruments is at work on a section of the project between Fresno and Bakersfield. The elevated tracks will be supported by large-bore piles. These are being constructed within 30 feet of the heavily used existing tracks.
Monitoring Requirements
To ensure operational safety, a real-time monitoring system was required to provide adequate warning to rail operators. GEO-Instruments provided two systems for this purpose.
Wireless Tiltmeters
The first system was an array of wireless tiltmeters installed on a 300-foot span of track adjacent to the construction area. Data from the tiltmeters was used to model total track movement.
Solar-Powered AMTS
The second system was a solar-powered AMTS system that monitored 180 rail-clip prisms that are mounted directly on the rails. The system provides operators with measurements and changes of the XYZ coordinates of each prism at three-hour intervals.
Solar-Powered Site Camera
GEO-Instruments also deployed a solar-powered construction-site camera. Cameras provide a continuous record of progress and can help identify problems and improve operations.
Sisterbar Strain Gauges
GEO-Instruments also supplied and installed sisterbar strain gauges for LTC's O-cell and lateral load testing of the piles.
Lowering instrumented cage into the bore.