Researchers from Zonge Engineering in my own Tucson, Arizona along with researchers at the University of Arizona’s Mining and Geological Engineering Department (my alma mater) have completed a report on a fiber optic monitoring system that has wide-ranging applications in border security, prison perimeter protection, mine safety and other applications. The Helios system uses the principle of ‘optical backscattering’ to detect small acoustical vibrations, such as an illegal border crosser, or a trapped miner tapping on a wall. Because of the speed with which the lasers can travel in the fiber optic line, the system can be deployed in lengths up to 50-km, and can locate the source of a signal within 1-m. If there are source lasers at each end of the cable, they can even detect exactly where the cable is cut and it can continue functioning. [Source: UANews.org. Image: UANews.org]
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Geo-companies in ENR’s 2016 Top 500 Design Firms
ENR’s annual top 500 design firms list is out. These rankings are based on revenue for design services in the previous calendar year. I was curious how the various firms that are strong in geotechnical / geological related services rank. I included firms that self-identified as geotechnical firms, as well as engineering firms that I know to have a strong geo emphasis. I’m sure there are some that I missed. I also included some of the major A&E firms that provide these types of services. I even included a few environmental firms. So in summary, it’s still a bit subjective on who is included. Without further ado, here is the list (along with their change in ranking relative to 2015):
- 1 – AECOM, Los Angeles, Calif. (No change from 2015)
- 3 – CH2M, Englewood, Colo. (+1)
- 5 – AMEC FOSTER WHEELER, Tucker, Ga. (+1)
- 7 – TETRA TECH INC., Pasadena, Calif. (No change from 2015)
- 9 – HDR, Omaha, Neb. (No change from 2015)
- 11 – WSP | PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF, New York, N.Y. (+5)
- 12 – ARCADIS NORTH AMERICA/CALLISONRTKL, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (+1)
[Editor] Click through for the rest of the Geo list! [/Editor]
Penetradar Ground Penetrating Radar Systems
RIS Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Systems can accurately and nondestructively “see” through solid pavement materials, such as asphalt, concrete and soil to detect subsurface objects and determine the condition and thickness of the material examined. […]