Background

The planning permission granted for the demolition of a large industrial facility required vibration levels to be monitored for the duration of the works. This was to ensure that the vibrations generated by the demolition work did not exceed levels where damage could have been caused to nearby residential dwellings.

Vibration Monitoring

AWN Consulting was appointed to install a continuous vibration monitor in the vicinity of the nearest residential dwellings. In order to provide the contractor with detailed and up-to-date information the installed vibration monitor was provided with remote access capabilities.

The remote access allows data to be downloaded remotely as frequently as is necessary. During the course of the project the download frequency changed as the level of activity on site changed. When the activity was most intense, i.e. during the basement slab demolition phase, the vibration levels were monitored on a daily basis to ensure the vibration limits were not exceeded.

In addition, the system was capable of sending a text message alert to designated phone numbers if a predefined vibration level was exceeded. This allowed both the contractor and AWN to be aware of the vibration levels in real time. In the event of this alarm being triggered the vibration data could be downloaded immediately to examine the results in detail.

Work on this project commenced in 2009; the demolition work was completed in 2010.