Geotechnical Monitoring for Tunneling Under I-5 for U-Link Light Rail, Seattle, WA

Laser scanner with data logging system and on-site computer. Also has total station for backup.

Laser scanner with data logging system and on-site computer. Also has total station for backup.

The Washington office of Rhode Island-based Geo-Instruments has been contracted to setup (and operate?) a geotechnical and structural monitoring system for the I-5 Undercrossing Project of the overall University Link light rail extension Project. Beginning in 2011, twin 3.5-mile tunnels will be constructed by tunnel boring machine to connect down Seattle to the University of Washington.

The monitoring includes in-place vertical and horizontal inclinometers, two Leica ScanStation laser scanners, automated total station instruments, tiltmeters, six datalogging systems and redundant DSL and EVDO wireless internet access for posting real-time monitoring data to a project data base and monitoring site. [Source: Point of Beginning. Image: Point of Beginning]