Specialist Engineering, Materialsand Environmental Consultants

Specialist Engineering, Materialsand Environmental Consultants

GeophysicalGeophysical

newsletter

STATS leads on one of the most important nuclear non-proleration projects in history

Christmas Greetings!The geophysical group at STATS, under the leadership of Dr George Tuckwell, continues to offer a broad range of geophysical services, delivered to a high professional standard. Over the past 12 months STATS Geophysical have been involved in a wide and varied range of projects, from relatively simple service searches to the complexities of dynamic slope stability modeling. Through our continued expertise in non-invasive near surface and structural investigation we are now established as one of the leading companies for engineering and environmental geophysical surveying in the UK.

From STATS we wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

8002De ce rmbe

New Website!

We have just launched ournew website! Detailed informationon the techniques used by STATS

Geophysical and the services provided can be viewed at:

www.stats.co.uk/geophysics

New Reference Guide

STATS geophysical has recently published an updated version of our very successful manual: ‘A Reference for Geophysical Techniques and Applications’. Circulated to Clients and other interested parties, the first edition manual has now been adopted by 3 Msc courses in the UK.

STATS Director, George Tuckwell says “The first edition of our technical manual was a great success, and has become the first point of reference for many industry professionals. The new edition contains expanded technical material, and also updated illustrative case studies, and we expect copies to be in high demand!”

A complimentary copy of the guide can be viewed and provided to anyone who visits our website at www.stats.co.uk/geophysics

For more information, or to receive a copy in the post, please contact geophysics@stats.co.uk

More information about IFE08 can be found at www.ctbto.org

Unveiled in 1996, the Comprehensive To provide the exercise with a realistic Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation setting for a possible violation of the (CTBTO) is charged with verifying CTBT, the fictitious State of Arcania treaty compliance once it goes live via was invented. To establish whether or a global network of experts in the not Arcania had conducted a recent fields of seismology, hydroacoustics, nuclear test explosion in violation of in f rasound and rad ionuc l ide the Treaty, the inspectors employed monitoring. When any suspicious vi su al obs er va ti on s, sei sm ic activity is recorded, it triggers an On- me as ur in g, an d ra di on uc li de Site Investigation (OSI) by a team of detection followed by more intrusive 60 interna tional experts. STATS' methods. These were designed to expertise is central to this. Last year, find features of potential underground the geophysics team was contracted nuclear explosions that were not by the United Nations (UN) to write visible from the surface. the CPT standard operat ing procedures, and STATS Director Ge or ge le ad th e d es ig n a nd George Tuckwell was appointed as implem entation of a n umber o f the field team's lead geophysics shallow geophysical techniques such ins pec tor. In Sep tem ber 200 8, as magnetics, EM conductivity and George took part in the CTBTO's first GPR to find artefacts pointing to the ever Integrated Field Exercise site of an underground nuclear (IFE08). The object of the exercise explosion. Although the other teams was to evaluate the readiness of OSI fo un d no cl ea r ev id en ce of for when the treaty enters into force. underground nuclear testing, there

were plenty of anomalies to investigate. Overall the exercise was a success and hopefully some valuable lessons were learnt for the future. We now have to hope that the Treaty enters into force within the next few years and that we have proven that it is verifiable so that no one will attempt to carry out a nuclear explosion. Hopefully we never have

The exercise involved over 200 to carry out a real On-Site Inspection.people and the transportation of 50 tonnes of equipment. Widely regarded as of the most ambitious projects in the history of nuclear non-proliferation, IFE08 entailed spending three weeks at the former Soviet Union nuclear test site near Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan (over 450 nuclear explosions were conducted at the site between 1945 and 1989).

GeophysicalGeophysical

STATS Limited Porterswood House, Porters WoodSt Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 6PQTel: 01727 833261 Fax: 01727 835682Email: geophysics@stats.co.uk

www.stats.co.uk/geophysics7

We have developed a number of general and topic specific seminars and short courses on the application of geophysics, and the services that STATS Geophysical offer to clients.

We are pleased to deliver these on site to interested parties, and can tailor presentations to the specific needs and interests of a particular audience.

Please contact George Tuckwell on 01727 833 261 for further information.

Major multi-disciplinary site investigation in Scotland

Numerical Modelling Services

Taught Courses

STATS now offer a range of numerical modelling services with application to geotechnical and geophysical investigations. Our expertise in industry standard codes, and the development of our own, in house, specialist software provide a suite of capabilities that can be targeted to complex scenario testing, risk assessment, and as an aid to survey design and data interpretation.

Settlement contour model of a high rise building

Archaeological Geophysics

We continue to offer high quality, high resolution surveys for archaeological targets. Reconnaissance surveys can save time and money to allow intrusive trenches to target identified features. Applicable techniques include magnetic gradiometry, resistivity and GPR. The photograph below shows STATS Geophysical recently undertaking a resistivity survey over the remains of a Medieval Abbey. The data plot below shows clearly the remains of the structure beneath the surface. As a result of the geophysical investigation the time and expense of a large system of exploratory trenches was avoided.

New radar techniquefor ecological surveys

These services complement STATS established expertise in ground engineering and geophysical consulting, and are underpinned by teams of experienced & knowledgeable sta ff.77

EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS: Ground excavation, tunnelling and mining, embankments, heave prediction, reinforced earth, expert witness, fluid flow.

Part of the RSK Group

DNV Register certified for ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 14001

Environmental Management

Testing No 0278

As part of the Transport for Scotland A82 ten-year improvement plan a key bottleneck in the route (which is a key strategic route for the west of Scotland) was identified adjacent to the national monument of Pulpit Rock along the banks of Loch Lomond. At this location the road narrows to a single carriageway round a steep hill. STATS assisted the site investigation by deploying a number of geophysical techniques including resistivity imaging (see example section below), seismic refraction, surface wave ground stiffness, microgravity and cross hole seismic tomography. The techniques helped identify the depths of geological strata, presence of potential faults and a range of engineering parameters. The results will aid the design choice of the improvements which will either include road widening or a tunnel through the hill.

For more information & videos on this landmark project visit www.rsk.co.uk/content/view/471/1129/

STATS Geophysical now have the ability to detect motion in the subsurface using the SIR3000 radar system. This brings exciting new applications for ecological survey work where non-disturbance of the underground animal is of paramount importance. After trials with pets (see our Bruno, pictured) and rabbits in burrows, the radar has shown to detect the slightest movement of animals underground. Contact us for more info on this development.