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Boston's Tobin Bridge Gets "Smart"
Wireless Sensors to Monitor Bridge's Structural Conditions
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bridge. Geocomp will design and install the sensor system. The continuous stream of data will provide important real-time information about stresses and loads on the bridge. The computer modeling, calibration and installation of the sensors should be complete by 2010.
After hearing of Massport’s selection, Geocomp’s Dr. Marr stated, “we are extremely pleased to be a part of this important effort to help ensure the safety of the Tobin Bridge through the use of modern technology.” 
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From the Lab
Faster Rock Testing
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This is necessary for unconfined compression and triaxial compression strength test specimens. Previously, we used a lapping machine to perform end surface preparation.
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| However, for certain rock types, this process would sometimes take over eight hours. Now, with the surface grinder, we can prepare better quality end surfaces in under 30 minutes! This gives us the ability to process large quantities of |
 rock samples at one time and ultimately to provide our clients with much faster test results. GTX is validated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for rock testing. 
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 From the New York Office
Progress at the World Trade Center (WTC)
| Geocomp’s New York Office continues work on the WTC Transportation Hub Project as it moves into its second year of construction. After the underpinning stage of the #1 Subway Box ended and before the excavation stage began, a massive operation to transfer the subway box load to 450 mini-piles was carried out over many 53-hour weekends when subway train services were suspended.
As a part of this operation, Geocomp
installed and monitored a large number of instruments in the subway box.
- Over 1500 vibrating wire strain gages were installed on the mini-piles. These gages were monitored in real time during load transfer to confirm and to record the loads on the mini-piles.
- 270 new horizontal beam sensors were installed in 2 separate strings, each nearly 700 ft. long, along the full length of the subway box, to monitor vertical movements.
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- 275 extensometers were installed on the tension rods. These instruments were monitored for possible resin anchor slippage of the rods that transfer the load from the subway box to the massive steel loading frame.
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By August, Geocomp’s personnel had logged more than 1,750 man-hours on the weekend works.
For more on the project, read the New York Times article, “Ground Zero’s Train in a Box, Above a Forest of Steel." To view the article, Click here.
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