Development of Mine Explosion Ground Truth Smart Sensors

Accurate seismo-acoustic source location is one of the fundamental aspects of U.S. nuclear explosion monitoring and for verification of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Critical to improved location is the compilation of ground truth data sets for which origin time and location are accurately known. We propose to build an inexpensive, ground truth smart sensor that could be placed in close proximity (< 5 km) to mining regions that would greatly aid in development of ground truth datasets thereby improving U.S. nuclear explosion monitoring capabilities. The overall objective is to build a compact, self-contained, inexpensive smart sensor seismo/acoustic system that can be placed in mining regions for nuclear explosion monitoring ground truth development efforts. Our approach is to analyze available locally-recorded mine explosions in order to develop algorithms and associated hardware to meet operational goals necessary for transmittal of accurate ground truth data. The hardware and algorithms developed as part of our Phase I and II study can be migrated to the processor for applications such as border security, facility monitoring, and measuring ground motion from surface mines, early earthquake alert warning systems, deep underground coal mine safety among others. Seismic, acoustic, nuclear explosion monitoring, smart sensors, ground truth, mining regions Rocky Mountain Geophysics, Inc. will develop a seismo/acoustic smart sensor system to be used to transmit accurate ground truth information (location, origin time, magnitude) from mining regions to improve U.S. nuclear explosion monitoring capabilities. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits:The system will be compact, inexpensive, simple to deploy and capable of autonomous operation for periods of up to six months.