Kentucky Lock and Dam

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is constructing a new 1200 ft.-long lock adjacent to the existing 600 ft.-long navigation structure located on the Tennessee River.

Geocomp Corporation has completed the second phase of a dynamic monitoring system for the USACE, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the lock owners. After being awarded the $1.3M instrumentation monitoring contract in 2002, Geocomp developed, installed, and automated an instrumentation system to monitor the lock over the 5-year project duration.



The sensors included in-place inclinometers, tilt meters and vibrating wire piezometers. Connected to a wireless
network of iSite data loggers, the instruments were scanned once per minute, and each reading compared to predefined alarm limits. Principals were notified within 5 minutes by phone or email of the development of an alarm status.

This real-time monitoring system allowed the operators to keep the existing lock open to traffic while construction took place. Alarms and routine monitoring data were automatically processed by Geocomp’s iSiteCentral web-based data collection and reporting system. Any authorized user could access the data over the Internet through a standard web browser.

Geocomp has provided the TVA and the USACE with a robust monitoring system, which delivered real-time feedback on the safety of the Kentucky Lock and Dam during this extensive construction program.

Noteworthy
UC Davis Honors W. Allen Marr

The University of California, Davis selected Dr. W. Allen Marr, Geocomp’s president and CEO, to receive its 2007 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal.

In his congratulatory note to Allen, Dean of the College of Engineering Enrique J. Lavernia wrote,

    The selection committee felt that you best fulfill the selection criteria: a record of 15 or more years of outstanding professional achievement and distinguished service to the College, the engineering profession or the community at large.

The medal was presented to Dr. Marr during the June 15th commencement ceremony for undergraduate engineers, at the UC Davis campus.

Field Measurements in Geomechanics (FMGM)
 7th International Symposium

When: September 24-27, 2007,
Where: The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, Boston, MA

The 7th FMGM is expected to draw experts and practitioners from every continent and more than 40 countries who work in infrastructure, construction, mining, petroleum, and the geoenvironmental fields. The symposium will showcase professionals, equipment, methods, and organizations associated with making field performance measurements to help manage risks in the design, construction and operation of engineered facilities.

The program will include special lectures, technical presentations, poster sessions, exhibitions, workshops and technical tours, as well as a parallel non-technical program. Anyone involved in performance monitoring should consider attending.

Visit www.fmgm.org for more information.

Please stop by Geocomp’s exhibit to learn how we can help with your project.

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June 2007