Feature sponsored by Test & measurement T
he equipment consists of a X/Ku- band radar system including reflector dishes for transmit and receive. The returning signal is compared to the outgoing signal to produce an Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal containing
range and movement information whenever a PDC shows up on the slope of the volcano. The IF signal is digitised by the M2p.5921-x4 Spectrum card with 20 MegaSamples per second and processed using Spectrum’s SBench 6 measurement software. “We have just returned from setting up the equipment that is monitoring one of the slopes of the Santiaguito Volcano,” explains Dr Amin Amiri. “This is the first research into PDC events to try and understand the mechanisms for this type of volcanic activity. As you never know when it is about to happen, we have a seismic activity detector that turns on the radar system when it detects a tremor. This ensures we only capture relevant data on a PDC event. In this way we also conserve the battery power of the system which is deep in the Guatemalan jungle and charged by solar panels. We will be back in a couple of months to collect the stored data, and to install two more setups that will monitor the other two slopes.”
The original design was specified to work at a distance of four kilometres from the target, but the terrain in the jungle was not suitable so it was set up further back on a high spot of land six kilometres away. The team was concerned that the equipment would not be sensitive enough for this 50 per cent increase in distance and used a drone flying over the jungle treetops to the slope as a moving target to verify that it was working properly. “Sensitivity is the key to the success of this system as an early warning,” adds Dr Amiri. “We tested the Spectrum card and found that
Setup of the first system at 6,100m distance from the active volcano slope
it has an incredibly impressive low noise floor of -100 dBm so we could build a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) system that can see all small movements of the volcano that are the first signs of a PDC.”
The biggest challenges encountered by the team were the heat, the humidity and the mosquitos. Not only did they have to protect themselves from them but also all the electronics. A metal box is used to keep out the humidity, the rain and the wildlife but then cooling is a challenge as holes in the box are not possible and the temperature in the jungle exceeds 35°C. Keeping the box in the shade and having a fan inside the box to keep the air circulating were a help. The team is now working on improvements for the next systems, such as large fins on top of the box to radiate heat away or a small solar-powered fridge. “One factor in selecting a card from Spectrum was that it’s specified to work over a large temperature and humidity range. Plus, it has thermal cut- out for protection if the environment becomes too hot,” concludes Dr Amiri. “I’ve used Spectrum cards in other projects, so I know their high standards of manufacture. I can be confident that it will keep on working deep in the jungle so I won’t have to fly half around the world to replace it!”
Spectrum Instrumentation
www.spectrum-instrumentation.com
Instrumentation Monthly June 2023 37
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