ShapeArray is your smart solution for geotechnical

monitoring.
An integrated, streamlined approach to reducing risk.
DEFORMATION CAPTURE SIMPLIFIED.
ShapeArray is an integrated measuring tool that
measures deformation in soil and structures in real-
time. The instrument can be used vertically, horizontally,
or in an arc, to measure lateral deformation, settlement,
or convergence. ShapeArray’s design—rigid stainless
steel sensorized segments connected by flexible joints—
is durable and allows for simple installation from its
shipping reel. Every segment of ShapeArray contains
three MEMS tilt sensors, a microprocessor and digital
temperature sensor.
EASY. RESILIENT. SAAV
CASING CAP
holds SAAV in compression.

EXTENSION TUBES
occupy space at top, if sensors are not
needed near the surface.

SENSORIZED SEGMENTS
With the cyclical installation system
(patent pending), segments zigzag within
the casing, enabling easy installation and
the re-use of casings.

SILENT SEGMENTS
occupy space at the bottom, if sensors
are not needed there. Can be added or
removed in the field.
EXTENSION TUBES &
SILENT SEGMENTS
SAAV is designed to provide maximum flexibility and
control. Extension tubes and silent segments permit
placing the SAAV’s sensorized segments in a region of
interest.

CYCLICAL INSTALLATION
The cyclical installation system (patent pending) enables
a stable fit into either new or distorted casings up to 100
mm in diameter. SAAV takes reel-to-hole installation to
a new level. No other inclinometer system is as easy or
resilient to deformation.
The most advanced ShapeArray makes installation even simpler
with off-the-reel cyclical installation into casings up to 100 mm
in diameter. Optional silent segments offer flexibility for users to
control the location of the sensorized zone.

Segment Length:
500 mm

Installation:
Vertical/Horizontal1/
Convergence1

Applications:
Permanent/Temporary
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SEGMENT LENGTH 500 mm (Joint centre to joint centre)

CASING INSIDE DIAMETERS 47 mm to 100 mm (Other sizes late 2017)

STANDARD LENGTH OF SAAV 0.5 m to 150 m (500 mm segments)

CUSTOM LENGTH OF SAAV Over 150 m (Contact Measurand for details)

LENGTH OF FIBERGLASS EXTENSION 1 m to 100 m

LENGTH OF COMMUNICATION CABLE 15 m standard

ACCURACY OF DEFORMATION ± 1.5 mm for 32 m ShapeArray

RELATIVE TO STARTING SHAPE234

RESOLUTION OF SINGLE SEGMENT45 ± 1 arcsecond

1
Horizontal and convergence installation available late 2017.
2
One-sigma value, based on cyclical installation in 59 mm ID casing. Accuracy degrades as square root of length.
3
Value based on AIA (Average in Array) setting of 1000 samples.
4
Specification is for 3D mode within ± 20° of vertical. Vertical accuracy degrades with angular deviation from the vertical.
5
RMS calculated from published noise figure of sensor (verified by Measurand Inc.) and bandwidth of system using highest
AIA setting of 25,600 samples.
Versatile and flexible, SAAF is the most popular ShapeArray model.
A range of available segment lengths tailors spatial resolution and
maximum curvature. Ideal for long-term monitoring horizontally,
vertically, or in an arc.

Segment Length:
200, 305, and 500 mm

Installation:
Vertical/Horizontal/
Convergence

Applications:
Permanent
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SEGMENT LENGTH1 200, 305, 500 mm (Joint centre to joint centre)

CASING INSIDE DIAMETERS 27 mm ID PVC

STANDARD LENGTH OF SAAF 0.305 m to 60.96 m (305 mm segments),

0.5 m to 150 m (500 mm segments)

CUSTOM LENGTH OF SAAF Over 150 m (Contact Measurand for details)

LENGTH OF PEX TUBING 1.5 m standard

LENGTH OF COMMUNICATION CABLE 15 m standard (13.5 m extends past PEX tubing)

ACCURACY OF DEFORMATION ± 1.5 mm for 32 m ShapeArray

RELATIVE TO STARTING SHAPE234

RESOLUTION OF SINGLE SEGMENT45 ± 2 arcseconds

1
Custom segment lengths between 200 mm and 305 mm are available at extra cost.
2
One-sigma value, based on cyclical installation in 27 mm ID casing. Accuracy degrades as square root of length.
3
Value based on AIA (Average in Array) setting of 1000 samples.
4
Specification is for 3D mode within ± 20° of vertical. Vertical accuracy degrades with angular deviation from the vertical.
5
RMS calculated from published noise figure of sensor (verified by Measurand Inc.) and bandwidth of system using highest
AIA setting of 25,600 samples.
Purpose-built with longer one metre segments for heavy duty
horizontal installation: soil settlement, rail-line deformation, and
pipeline monitoring.

Segment Length:
1000 mm

Installation:
Horizontal

Applications:
Permanent/Temporary
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SEGMENT LENGTH 1000 mm (Joint centre to joint centre)

STANDARD LENGTH OF SAAX 1 m to 150 m

CUSTOM LENGTH OF SAAX Over 150 m (Contact Measurand for details)

LENGTH OF PEX TUBING 1.5 m standard

LENGTH OF COMMUNICATION CABLE 15 m standard (13.5 m extends past PEX tubing)

ACCURACY OF DEFORMATION ± 1.5 mm for 32 m SAAX

RELATIVE TO STARTING SHAPE234

ACCURACY OF ABSOLUTE SHAPE1234 ± 10 mm for 32 m SAAX

RESOLUTION OF SINGLE SEGMENT3456 ± 2 arcseconds

1
Measured at 20°C, with X mark facing a consistent direction.
2
Long term measurement value based on field measurements of vertical arrays > 1 year of operation.
3
Value based on averaging 1000 frames per reading.
4
Specification is for 3D mode within ± 15° of vertical.
5
Short-term measurement ≤ 24 h.
6
RMS calculated from published noise figure of sensor (verified by Measurand Inc.) and bandwidth of system using highest
AIA setting of 25,600 samples.
Built for rapid deployment and repeated use. The instrument of
choice for one-shot verification of the alignment of jet-grouting
holes. Thick-walled 500 mm segments provide great spatial detail
and resist damage.

Segment Length:
500 mm

Installation:
Vertical/Horizontal/
Convergence

Applications:
Temporary
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SEGMENT LENGTH 500 mm (Joint centre to joint centre)

STANDARD LENGTH OF SAASCAN 0.5 m to 50 m

CUSTOM LENGTH OF SAASCAN Over 50 m (Contact Measurand for details)

LENGTH OF UNSENSORIZED 8.2 m standard (Includes 330 mm Cable Termi-

NEAR-CABLE END nator Segment and 7900 mm Hydraulic Hose)

LENGTH OF COMMUNICATION CABLE 15 m standard

ACCURACY OF DEFORMATION ± 1.5 mm for 32 m SAAScan

RELATIVE TO STARTING SHAPE245

ACCURACY OF ABSOLUTE SHAPE1245 ± 10 mm for 32 m SAAScan

RESOLUTION OF SINGLE SEGMENT3456 ± 2 arcseconds

1
Measured at 20°C, with X mark facing a consistent direction.
2
Long term measurement value based on eld measurements of vertical arrays > 1 year of operation.
3
Short-term measurement ≤ 24 h.
4
Value based on averaging 1000 frames per reading.
5
Specification is for 3D mode within ± 15° of vertical.
6
RMS calculated from published noise figure of sensor (verified by Measurand Inc.) and bandwidth of system using highest
AIA setting of 25,600 samples.
DATA COLLECTION
AND VIEWING
Geotechnical Observations take export files from
SAASuite for use in our presentation packages, Atlas
and Geodaisy. Atlas is an efficient tool for graphically
presenting data from all types of instrumentation
and can be used to raise alarms to real-time events.
Geodaisy is Geotechnical Observations’ in-house
software for analysing and interpreting the results of
real-time data. It includes a wide range of tools for
analysing the results from ShapeArrays.
Auto Collection / Retrieval

SAA232

ShapeArray(s) Data Acquisition Data Logger Wireless Comms

System

Auto Collection / Manual Retrieval

SAA232
SAASuite
Open Data
Exports

ShapeArray(s) Data Acquisition Data Logger Laptop

System

Manual Collection / Retrieval

ShapeArray(s) FPU Laptop

INSTALLATION SUPPORT
When complex or uncertain installation conditions
face our clients, Geotechnical Observations, supported
by Measurand, is able to assist with technical experts
in the field. We believe that providing onsite technical
advice and training gives your team a solid foundation
to get valuable and actionable data from ShapeArray’s
real-time deformation monitoring.

AFTER SALE SUPPORT

In-house support is provided by Measurand’s technical
staff with industry experience, ready to provide
assistance with your ShapeArray instrumentation.
An online library and support portal make it simple to
collect, process, and view your data. For situations that
require closer attention, support staff are available via
telephone and email.
ONE PRODUCT.
ONE FOCUS.
YOUR SOLUTION.
MEASURAND IS THE
INDUSTRY STANDARD
FOR REAL-TIME
GEOTECHNICAL
MONITORING
 SECTORS URBAN CONSTRUCTION

MINING & TAILINGS PONDS TUNNELS

GEOHAZARDS DAMS & LEVEES

US ROUTE 2 LANDSLIDE

Traffic diverted before

catastrophic failure
SHAPEARRAYS PROVIDE EARLY
WARNING AND THEN SURVIVE
MASSIVE SLIDE
Steep river banks and clay soil near highways have led to numerous slide events
near Crookston, MN, over the past 50 years. In 2003, a landslide in downtown
Crookston caused significant property damage, leading the Minnesota Depart-
ment of Transportation (MnDOT) to investigate new monitoring solutions. The
department had used traditional inclinometers, but were interested in automation
and remote collection of data. MnDOT installed ShapeArrays in two roadway sec-
tions on US Route 2 experiencing stress related to erosion and soil instability.

ShapeArray data revealed that soil movements at the Crookston East site were
deeper than anticipated. Experts determined that the slope was no longer creep-
ing and a major failure was occurring. The MnDOT closed the westbound lanes
of US 2 and detoured traffic on Sept. 15, 2008. Ten days later, a large progressive
landslide occurred, dropping a 150 metre section of highway three metres. The
slide continued over several days. ShapeArray helped engineers ensure that no
members of the public were hurt during the sliding event. ShapeArray survived
unprecedented deformation during and after the event. The system remains in
place and provides valuable data to the MnDOT.

See more case studies at measurand.com

Reference:
Dasenbrock, D. D. (2010) Automated Landslide Instrumentation Programs on US Route 2 in Crookston, MN. Proceedings of the UMN 58th
Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference. Continuing Education and Conference Center, St. Paul Campus: University of Minnesota.
ŻELAZNY MOST

Europe’s largest tailings

pond demanded deep
ShapeArray monitoring
SHAPEARRAY PROVIDE RISK
REDUCTION FOR CHALLENGING
SOIL FOUNDATION CONDITIONS
With a development capacity of over 1.1 billion cubic metres, that accepts 80,000
tonnes of tailings each day, the Zelazny Most Reservoir plays an essential role
in Poland’s economic activity. When the engineers at the Zelazny Most Reservoir
began to suspect that the ground beneath Europe’s largest copper tailings pond
might be moving, they needed new monitoring solutions.

ShapeArray enabled monitoring at an unprecedented depth, which provided

Zelazny Most Reservoir’s owners, KGHM Polska Miedz, a way to monitor slope
stability and deformation in the dam foundation.

ShapeArray is part of a monitoring program at the reservoir to accommodate the

tailings produced by three copper mines in the area.

See more case studies at measurand.com

SEWERS

Effective convergence and

settlement monitoring in
confined, hazardous space
REAL-TIME DATA ALLOWS
DESIGN VERIFICATION AND
IMPROVES WORKER SAFETY
When designers of the Crossrail tunnel underneath London’s streets encountered
obstacles such as brick sewers, they installed ShapeArrays to monitor conver-
gence and settlement. The Mid-level sewer lay just a few metres above a hand ex-
cavated cross-passage between the existing Bond Street Station and a new ticket
hall on London’s busy Oxford Street.

Working with electrical instrumentation inside potentially explosive environments

can be dangerous and following detailed discussions with Thames Water, it was
decided that the ShapeArrays should be protected with ATEX certified conduits.
Geotechnical Observations sourced suitable protective sleeves and worked
closely with Thames Water and Measurand to deliver a safe and reliable system.
ShapeArrays were installed around the internal circumference of the sewer to
measure convergence and along the crown of the sewer to measure settlement
as tunnelling occurred beneath the sewer.

ShapeArray’s low profile does not obstruct flow in tunnels and eliminates the
need for workers to enter the potentially dangerous environments to collect data.
The system has also been used in live railway tunnels.

See more case studies at measurand.com

BASEMENTS AND DEEP EXCAVATIONS

ShapeArray measured
retaining wall deflection,
reduced construction
time and costs
MEASUREMENT DATA ALLOWS
ENGINEERS TO EXECUTE A
VALUE ENGINEERING
PROPOSAL
Whilst constructing a new £1 billion station at Tottenham Court Road in
London’s West End, engineers planned five levels of temporary props to bolster
and stabilize the retaining walls. Geotechnical Observations installed nine
ShapeArrays vertically into the retaining walls to measure deflection. Engineers
set a number of different alarms to notify staff when movement exceeded their
thresholds. The data produced by the ShapeArrays allowed our engineers to
help draft a Value Engineering (VE) proposal to omit a planned propping level.
The data showed that forces acting on the retaining walls were within allowable
tolerances without the additional prop. The client accepted the VE proposal,
which resulted in significant savings to the project and eliminated 26 days of
scheduled construction.

See more case studies at measurand.com

Reference:
Thurlow, P., & Lipscombe, R. (2014). The Use of Shape Accel Arrays (SAAs) for Measuring Retaining Wall Deflection. In J. Wolosick, A.
Marinucci, S. Ballenger. Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations. Atlanta, GA: DFI.
 NORTHERN LINE EXTENSION

ShapeArray is the new

standard
Following the very successful use of ShapeArrays on the Crossrail project in
London, contractors again turned to them for monitoring the construction of an
extension to the Northern Line on London Underground’s network. On this project
ShapeArrays were, for the first time, written into the monitoring specification
in preference to other forms of in-place measuring equipment. Geotechnical
Observations installed ShapeArrays into the vertical retaining walls for two
shafts and two station boxes, as well as three existing railway tunnels. Installing
instruments into live railway tunnels brought many new challenges and new
methods of fixing had to be developed, but as always Geotechnical Observations
and Measurand rose to the challenge.
CONTACT US
Geotechnical Observations’ vision is to be your preferred supplier of
structural and geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring services.
That is why we have partnered with Measurand, who strive to design
and manufacture superior monitoring products. Together we provide
the customer service to match this. From sales to installation to support
our joint aim is your satisfaction. Geotechnical Observations is the ex-
clusive distributor of Measurand’s products in the UK and Ireland.
Geotechnical Observations Ltd.
The Peter Vaughan Building [email protected]
9 Avro Way Brooklands Tel: +44 (0)1932 352040
Weybridge Surrey KT13 0YF Fax: +44 (0)1932 356375

Measurand Inc.
2111 Hanwell Road Tel: 1 (506) 462-9119 Connect with us
Fredericton, NB
E3C 1M7 Technical Support
Canada [email protected]

Visit us online at www.geo-observations.com and www.measurand.com

www.geo-observations.com
www.measurand.com