RST Instruments in 2021: A year in review

RST Instruments has successfully navigated through another year marked by global challenges. As 2021 draws to a close, we look back at some of this year’s highlights, and look forward to 2022.

3VGEOMATICS IS ADDED TO THE PLATFORM

3VG logo

In 2021, 3vGeomatics joined the RST/Measurand platform. An industry leader in radar satellite imaging analysis, 3vG’s specialists remotely detect and measure ground and infrastructure displacement over time using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). This technology has powerful applications in monitoring projects, enabling operators to remotely monitor vast areas for subsidence, uplift, and other movements. Combined with the geotechnical instrumentation offered by RST and Measurand, the inclusion of 3vG to the platform brings to market an industry-first holistic monitoring solution with global reach. 

SYSCOM INSTRUMENTS JOINS THE PLATFORM

This year we also welcomed Syscom Instruments to the platform. Syscom specializes in the design and production of leading-edge seismic and vibration monitoring instrumentation. The company’s line of products—including sensors, recorders, and software—has valuable applications in civil engineering, strong motion, and safety industries. Syscom’s proven experience in seismic and vibration technology integrates seamlessly with the platform’s suite of geotechnical instrumentation. With the addition of Syscom, the platform is now positioned to offer a fully comprehensive solution for monitoring projects.

WEBINAR Q&A: MONITORING CRITICAL ASSETS WITH INSAR AND GEOTECHNICAL INSTRUMENTS

Earlier this year, RST’s Pierre Choquet joined Parwant Ghuman and Heather Holden from 3vGeomatics to present a live webinar outlining the advantages of a holistic approach to monitoring critical assets using geotechnical instrumentation together with InSAR. Once regarded as mutually exclusive strategies, InSAR and geotechnical instrumentation are in fact complementary technologies that produce actionable risk mitigation data when used in combination.  

Key takeaways from our webinar include insights on how InSAR can provide early warning of risk; reasons why InSAR and ground instrumentation are complementary technologies; and an overview of how risk models can be kept up-to-date with InSAR in combination with ground instruments. 

To learn more about the benefits of using InSAR together with ground-based instruments, a recording of this webinar can be viewed on-demand. A transcript of the Q&A is also available for reference.  

A GUIDE TO TAILINGS DAM MONITORING

RST provides a guide to the most effective methods for monitoring tailings dams and facilities, demonstrating how risk can be minimized with a combination of in-ground and above-ground technologies. Data collected from on-site geotechnical instrumentation can complement analysis based on radar satellite imagery, providing a stream of accurate, actionable information on displacement trends.

UNDERSTANDING ACCURACY AND PRECISION: A GUIDE

We offer a guide to understanding the differences between accuracy and precision, showing how these terms apply to the proper use of geotechnical instrumentation. Key takeaways include an explanation of accuracy as it relates to uncertainty; a refresher on how to evaluate an instrument’s precision; and an overview of how to obtain more reliable data by increasing accuracy and minimizing error. 

GOING FORWARD INTO 2022

With the addition of 3vGeomatics and Syscom Instruments to RST Instruments and Measurand to form a unique platform of comprehensive monitoring technologies, we expect 2022 to be an especially productive year. To keep up with developments in the coming year, subscribe to our email newsletter. You can also follow us on LinkedIn.

From everyone at RST Instruments, we wish you all the best in 2022.

Speak with an Expert

I’m very happy with the quality of the instrumentation and technical support from RST, as always. They worked with us from the initial stages of the project to ensure that we were fully prepared and equipped to use the RSTAR network for the first time. They delivered everything within the tight project time frame to ensure that there were no delays on site, and the submersible tilt meters looked like new even after over twelve months of being submerged in Thames water!
 
-Richard Lipscombe, BEng (Hons), Director & Principle Consultant - RL Geotechnical Ltd