Monitoring

Instrumentation for Dams,

Hydropower, Irrigation
and Energy Projects
Concrete Dams | Concrete Face Rockfill Dams | Earthfill Dams | Pipelines

We make monitoring instruments. You make sound decisions.

 History Technologies
Since 1977, RST’s geotechnical monitoring “Turn-key” data logger systems offering DT-BUS instruments use a series of digitally
instruments have been integral components real-time data logging & analysis of vibrating bussed sensors, all addressable, along one
for major dams, mines, tunnels, pipelines, wire, thermistor, MEMS (analog and digital), cable. It simplifies installation and minimizes
and structures around the world that require Tensmeg, linear potentiometer, strain gauge, costs by eliminating the need of a separate cable
monitoring, measuring and data collection. LVDT, TDR and other sensor types. Ideal for each sensor and also reduces the amount
for remote data logging of dams, tunnels, of cable to be managed during installation.
As a world leader in the design,
bridges, mines, and natural slopes.
manufacturing and sale of innovative
geotechnical, environmental and structural
A precision line of tilt and inclination monitoring
monitoring instruments, our customers
Fully automated wireless data collection instruments using digital MEMS (Micro-
rely on our reliability & accuracy to:
using “DT Series” Data Loggers at the sensor Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensors.
Improve Decision Making level, deployed in a star topology from an
Manage Risks active RSTAR Hub with flexDAQ data logger or
Improve Safety THREAD Gateway. Users can access collected Measures any lateral movement down in
data remotely, either on-site or off-site. the earth, via inclinometer casing. Since
Optimize Design
2003, RST’s Digital MEMS Inclinometer has
Increase Productivity traversed a smaller radius bend than all other
Reduce Costs A semi-automated wireless data collection inclinometer probes available in the industry.
system that is an on-site wireless connection
to “DT Series” Data Loggers for quick data
collection. Ideal for hard to access areas RST Inclinalysis™ Software quickly
Experience where the data logger is within line of sight. reduces large volumes of data from the
RST Digital MEMS Inclinometer System
for analysis and presentation.
With years of geotechnical instrumentation A series of rugged data loggers that provide
experience, RST is capable of providing reliable, unattended monitoring of various
custom engineered solutions to site- sensor types: Vibrating Wire, MEMS, 4-20mA GeoViewer is a data viewer that provides
specific problems. When requested, in- Transmitters & Thermistors, Potentiometers flexible console viewing of large data sets
depth technical support is provided and all and Load Cells. DT Series Data Loggers from ADAS (automatic data acquisition
related staff members are always available can be used to collect data wirelessly or as systems). It features alarm functions
to work with clients until a solution is non-wireless stand-alone data loggers. and remote, real-time data access.
found to meet the project requirements.

Quality
The RST Instruments management
system is certified to ISO 9001:2015.
It is based on evidence of
corporate commitment to quality
in management responsibility,
design control, inspection &
testing, internal quality audit
procedures, training & servicing.

RST Instruments Ltd. Products

11545 Kingston St.,
Maple Ridge, BC More than half of all instruments manufactured
V2X 0Z5 Canada at RST Instruments are specifically engineered
EMAIL | [email protected] to meet site-specific requirements and are
TELEPHONE | 604 540 1100 designed in conjunction with client input.
TOLL FREE (USA & Canada) | 1 800 665 5599 RST also specializes in custom, complex
www.rstinstruments.com data acquisition systems and holds a
number of patents such as “Snap-Seal” ABS
inclinometer casing and the Digital MEMS
Inclinometer System. Satisfied engineers
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
worldwide have installed RST’s casing and
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including used the Digital MEMS Inclinometer System
photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods,
without the prior written permission of RST Instruments Ltd. for accurate slope stability monitoring. In-Line Extensometers
RST Instruments Ltd. reserves the right to change specifications
without notice. ©2018 RST Instruments Ltd. MIB0610A (pages 8 and 12)
CONTENTS

1 Product Categories

3 Data Collection (Wireless)

7 Concrete Dams

9 Concrete Face Rockfill Dams

11 Zoned Earthfill Dams with Clay Core

13 Pipeline Slope Monitoring

Load cell arrangement for large diameter pile load test

The La Yesca Dam, completed

in 2012, is a 220 m (722 ft)
tall and 628 m (2,060 ft)
long concrete-face rock-fill
dam on the Santiago River in
Mexico. The power station
produces an estimated annual
generation of 1,210 GWh.
1 Product Categories View the product page for videos and downloadable brochure:
http://www.rstinstruments.com/PRODUCTS.html 2

Inclinometers Readouts and Data Loggers Environmental Grout Monitors

and Tilt Sensors • Collect data from sensors in dams, and Pipe Products • Grout Monitors offer a
tunnels, bridges, mines, natural slopes permanent record of key grouting
• Measure lateral movement down in the • Measure elevation of groundwater in
and other geotechnical applications. parameters for quality assurance,
earth; lateral deformation of concrete dams, boreholes, standpipes and wells.
• Manual monitoring or remote, wireless quantity documentation, and
tall structures and bridge piers; and tilt of • Complete, custom weather stations.
data acquisition with alarm triggering. pressure & flow readings.
structures in either one or two axial planes.
• PVC wellscreen and pipe products for • Real-time data viewing available
• Provide long term/short term observation • Many sensor types and gauges can
monitoring groundwater hydrology, via Wi-Fi communication with
with maximum resolution and sensitivity. be read with these products including
drainage, and water wells. HDPE grout monitor data logger.
vibrating wire, thermistor, TENSMEG, linear
• Manual monitoring or remote data pipe is used for various industrial
potentiometer, strain gauge and MEMS.
acquisition options available. applications for landfills, waste KEY PRODUCTS:
KEY PRODUCTS: sites and mining applications. Compaction Grout Monitor
KEY PRODUCTS:
“DT Series” Data Loggers KEY PRODUCTS: Permeation Grout Monitor
Inclinometer Systems
RSTAR - Array Radio Series PVC Wellscreen, Casing and Pipe
In-Place Inclinometers
DT LINK Wireless Water Level Meters
Tilt Loggers & Meters
flexDAQ Data Loggers
Inclinometer Casing
VW2106 Vibrating Wire Readout
Tunnel Monitors
Ultra-Rugged Field PC²
Track Monitors
Custom Data Logger Enclosures

Piezometers and Extensometers and Thermistors and Analysis Software

Pressure Transducers Compressometers Temperature Systems • Leading-edge software for seamless
integration with RST’s instruments.
• Measure pore water pressure during fill • Measure ground deformation in mining • Temperature measurement with
or excavation. Invaluable in slope stability and civil engineering projects, linear simple thermistor integration • All software offered by RST is fully backed by
investigations and for assessing the stability displacement of structures, tunnel into certain instruments. a support team of software engineers who
of earth fill dams and embankments. displacement, and deformation in rock are ready to assist you with any questions,
• Custom thermistor/temperature
faces or underground workings. and to provide on-going software updates
• Compatible with “DT Series” Data systems, such as the Digital
for improved product performance.
Loggers for remote data acquisition. • Manual monitoring or remote, wireless Thermarray System.
Alarm triggering can also be utilized. data acquisition with alarm triggering. KEY PRODUCTS:
• The VW2106 Vibrating Wire Readout and KEY PRODUCTS:
KEY PRODUCTS: GeoViewer Real-time Monitoring
the C109 Pneumatic Readout are the main Digital ThermArray System
Convergence Monitors Inclinalysis™: Inclinometer Analysis Software
readouts used for reading piezometers. Thermistor Strings/Systems
Borehole Extensometers Host Software for RST’s Readouts & Data Loggers
TH2016B: Thermistor Readout
KEY PRODUCTS: In-Line Extensometers Subgrade Temperature Probe
Vibrating Wire Piezometer Crack Meters
Pneumatic Piezometer Pivot Laser Extensometer
Strain Gauge Piezometer Tunnel Profile Monitors
Strain Gauge and Vibrating
WirePressure Transducers

Load, Stress Settlement Systems Borehole Packers Carlson Instruments

and Pressure Sensors • Accurately monitor settlement or heave • Suitable for a wide variety • Used where concrete or similar type structures
in soils and man-made structures such of applications in open or require geotechnical investigation. Readings
• Measure load, stress and pressure
as buildings, tunnels, embankments, cased holes and for monitor can only be accessed by the Carlson MA7
as it relates to rock, soil, concrete
and earth and rockfill dams. well sampling, zone testing Readout and flexDAQ Data Loggers.
and piling type applications.
& monitoring, permeability
• Equipped with sensors that are vibrating KEY PRODUCTS: testing, hydrofracturing of KEY PRODUCTS:
wire, pneumatic or strain gauge. Precision Liquid Settlement Array formations, pressure grouting, Carlson Joint + Foundation Meters
• Manual monitoring or remote data Vibrating Wire Liquid Settlement Systems and sealing off artesian flows. Carlson MA7 Readout
acquisition configurations are available Horizontal In-place Inclinometers • Alternate sizes and materials are Carlson Piezometer
for many instruments in this category. available for custom applications.
Magnetic Settlement Systems Carlson Reinforced Concrete Meter
KEY PRODUCTS: Vibrating Wire Deep Settlement Systems KEY PRODUCTS: Carlson Resistance Thermometer
Load Cells Borehole Packers Carlson Strain Meters
Pressure Cells Borehole Packer Accessories Carlson Stress Cells
TENSMEG Tension Measuring Gauge
Rebar Strain Meter/Sister Bar
Vibrating Wire Strain Gauge
3 Data Collection (Wireless) View the product page for videos and downloadable brochure:
http://www.rstinstruments.com/Wireless-Data-Collection.html 4

2 WIRELESS DATA COLLECTION OPTIONS: A F Piezometer

Monitor pore water pressures
Whether collecting geotechnical instrument data on-site in the ground in slopes, dams,
or remotely, RST Instruments offers two wireless data foundations, or embankments.
collection systems: RSTAR and DT LINK.

Compatible sensor types for both systems are identical and

use the “DT Series” Data Loggers from RST Instruments
which provide reliable, unattended monitoring of various
sensor types: vibrating wire sensors, potentiometers,
MEMS tilt sensors, strain gauge (full bridge) sensors,
digitally bussed sensors (“DT-BUS”), 4-20 mA sensors,
and thermistors. These data loggers at the NODE (data C RSTAR L900 with FLEXDAQ
logger & sensor) level require a single lithium “D” cell and Allows for precise & reliable data acquisition
provide years of battery life. Both systems provide extensive from various sensor types and gauges including
open-country range through use of a simple dipole or vibrating wire, thermistor, MEMS (analog and digital),
directional antenna. Tensmeg, linear potentiometer, strain gauge, LVDT,
TDR, etc. Ideal for remote data logging of various
types of geotechnical instrumentation used in
OPTION 1: RSTAR
dams, tunnels, bridges, mines, and natural slopes.

The RSTAR Array Radio Series uses wireless technology to

provide automated data acquisition. A complete RSTAR L900
System uses RSTAR NODES at the sensor level, deployed in a
star topology from a continuously active RSTAR HUB, which D E In-Place Inclinometer and Inclinometer Casing
consists of an L900 RTU interfaced to an RST FLEXDAQ Data Installed in a borehole to monitor horizontal displacment
Logger. of the slope casing. Compatible with all commercially
available inclinometer probes, including RST’s Digital
MEMS Inclinometer Probe/System (manual readings)
The RSTAR system is intended for fully automated scheduled and In-Place Inclinometers (automated readings).
collection and provides remote data access. It uses a fixed
central hub with its own data logger, antenna, and power. Pictured Left: In-Place Inclinometer (D)
The range from the sensor node to the hub is up to 14 km and Inclinometer Casing (E)
and is based on the 900 MHZ, 868 MHz, and 2.4 GHz spread
spectrum band (country dependent).

OPTION 2: DT LINK

The DT LINK system is a wireless connection to RST data

loggers for quick semi-automated data collection performed
on-site. The DT LINK system uses a portable hub with laptop
connection and host software. The ranges from the sensor
node to the hub can be up to 500 m and 800 m and is based
on the 900 MHZ, 868 MHz, and 2.4 GHz spread spectrum
band (country dependent).
G Total Earth Pressure Cell
Measure stress acting on
plane surfaces. Ideal for earth
embankments, dams, foundations,
retaining walls, piles, pipelines &
culverts, railroad bases, beneath
raft foundations, tunnel linings, and
mine backfill monitoring. Available
A series* of rugged with pneumatic, strain gauge,
or vibrating wire transducers.
data loggers that
provide reliable,
unattended
monitoring of
various sensor
H DT LINK HUB
types and provide
A portable hub that connects to DT LINK
years of battery life.
NODES for wireless data transmission.
The DT LINK HUB connects via USB
to a laptop for its power and it uses
B DT Series Data Loggers shown in drawings at left: DT LINK Host Software for viewing
DT2011B - Single Channel Vibrating Wire Data Logger & downloading the collected data.
DT2055B - 5/10 Channel, Vibrating Wire/Thermistor Data Logger
DT2485 - Data Logger for DT-BUS Sensors
DTL201B - Uniaxial Digital Tilt Logger
DTL202B - Biaxial Digital Tilt Logger
*Contact RST for details on additional “DT Series” data loggers.
 3D Submersible Crack Meter installed
on perimeter joint of a concrete-face
rock-fill dam. Inset photo shows protective
cover being placed over the sensors.
(page 10)
7 Concrete Dam 8
H J In-Place Inclinometer and Inclinometer Casing
Installed in a borehole to monitor horizontal displacment
of the slope casing. Compatible with all commercially
available inclinometer probes, including RST’s Digital
MEMS Inclinometer Probe/System (manual readings)
A FLEXDAQ Data Logger Systems and In-Place Inclinometers (automated readings).
Allows for precise & reliable data acquisition from
various sensor types and gauges including vibrating Pictured Left: In-Place Inclinometer (H)
wire, thermistor, MEMS (analog and digital), Tensmeg, and Inclinometer Casing (J)
linear potentiometer, strain gauge, LVDT, TDR,
etc. Ideal for remote data logging of various types
of geotechnical instrumentation used in dams,
tunnels, bridges, mines, and natural slopes.

B Load Cell
Measure loads in tie-backs,
struts, ground anchors and
rock bolts. Also for measuring
loads during the testing of piles.
Typical sensors include strain
gauge and vibrating wire.
P ‘ThermArray’
K In-Line Provides precision thermal
C DTL201B / DTL202B gradient information
Extensometer
Uniaxial / Biaxial in geotechnical,
Determine extension geothermal, and marine
Digital Tilt Loggers or compression applications. Can be
Battery powered, radio enabled, behavior of soil, used to detect seepage.
unattended monitoring of tilt in rock, and concrete
either uniaxial or biaxial planes. structures. The
sensor housing is
waterproof and can Q Embedment
be installed flush
D Embedment Joint Meter Strain Gauge
with the borehole
Monitor joints on mass collar so it does Designed to be embedded
concrete structures. Ideal for not protrude. in concrete structures for
joints of concrete arch, gravity monitoring strain of concrete.
and buttress dams; concrete-
faced, rockfill dams; concrete
retaining walls and slabs.
L M Pendulums R DT4205 - 5/10 Channel
Monitor internal 4-20mA Transmitter
lateral deformations Data Logger/
Crack Meter of concrete dams,
E Thermistor Data Logger
dam foundations
Measure movement Battery powered, radio
and abutments, tall
(separation or convergence) enabled, unattended
industrial buildings
across surface cracks, joints, monitoring of up to 10
and bridge piers.
or concrete structures. channels which may
Available as both
direct and inverted be any mix of 4-20mA
systems. sensors or thermistors.
F Secondary
Enclosure N Piezometer
A secondary enclosure S Seepage Weir
Monitor pore water
used to house select “DT
pressures in the Precision system for
Series” Data Loggers.
ground in slopes, accurately monitoring
The cover can be
dams, foundations, water levels through dam
removed to allow easy
or embankments. seepage channels.
access to the internally
housed data logger.

G DT2011B - Single Channel O Total Earth

Vibrating Wire Data Logger Pressure Cell
Battery powered, radio enabled, Measure stress acting on
unattended monitoring plane surfaces. Ideal for
of a single vibrating wire earth embankments, dams,
sensor and thermistor. foundations, retaining walls,
piles, pipelines & culverts,
railroad bases, beneath
raft foundations, tunnel
I Pressure Transducer linings, and mine backfill
For uplift measurement in the monitoring. Available with
foundation of concrete dams, pneumatic, strain gauge, or
overflow settlement measurement vibrating wire transducers.
in earthfill and rockfill dams, and all
other applications for measuring fluid
pressure in closed circuits. Available
in vibrating wire or strain gauge.
9 Concrete Face Rockfill Dam 10
A Soil Extensometers
Monitor lateral and longitudinal
deformation of soil and different types
of embankments and embankment
dams. Can be chained together
in a series to monitor incremental G FLEXDAQ Data Logger Systems
deformation across structures. Allows for precise & reliable data acquisition from
various sensor types and gauges including vibrating
wire, thermistor, MEMS (analog and digital), Tensmeg,
linear potentiometer, strain gauge, LVDT, TDR,
B Liquid Settlement System etc. Ideal for remote data logging of various types
Monitor settlement or heave in soils of geotechnical instrumentation used in dams,
and different types of man-made tunnels, bridges, mines, and natural slopes.
structures such as embankments,
and earth and rockfill dams. Also ideal
for preload consolidation monitoring
and subsidence monitoring. H Seepage Weir
Precision system for
accurately monitoring
water levels through dam
C Piezometer seepage channels.
Monitor pore water pressures
in the ground in slopes, dams,
foundations, or embankments.

J N Submersible Crack Meter

Measure movement across surface
cracks and joints, including underwater
locations. Ideal for installation on the
upstream perimeter joint of CFRD dams.
D Total Earth Pressure Cell
1-D, 2-D and 3-D versions available.
Measure stress acting on plane
surfaces. Ideal for earth embankments,
dams, foundations, retaining walls,
piles, pipelines & culverts, railroad K Submersible Tilt Meter
bases, beneath raft foundations, tunnel Monitoring of tilt of submerged
linings, and mine backfill monitoring. structures, such as inclination of
Available with pneumatic, strain concrete-face rockfill dam slabs and
gauge, or vibrating wire transducers. concrete dams. Ideal for retaining
walls, piles, bridge piers, offshore
structures, and submerged pipelines.

E
F I In-Place Inclinometer L Embedment Joint Meter
and Inclinometer Casing Monitor joints on mass concrete
Installed in a borehole to monitor horizontal structures. Ideal for joints of concrete
displacment of the slope casing. Compatible with arch, gravity and buttress dams;
all commercially available inclinometer probes, concrete-faced, rockfill dams;
including RST’s Digital MEMS Inclinometer concrete retaining walls and slabs.
Probe/System (manual readings) and In-Place
Inclinometers (automated readings).

Pictured Left: In-Place Inclinometer (E)

and Inclinometer Casing (F) M Embedment
Strain Gauge
Designed to be embedded
in concrete structures for
monitoring strain of concrete.
11 Zoned Earthfill Dam with Clay Core 12
F Liquid Settlement System
Monitor settlement or heave in soils
and different types of man-made
A In-Line Extensometer
structures such as embankments,
Determine extension or and earth and rockfill dams. Also ideal
compression behavior of soil, rock, for preload consolidation monitoring
and concrete structures. The sensor and subsidence monitoring.
housing is waterproof and can be
installed flush with the borehole
collar so it does not protrude. G H In-Place Inclinometer and Inclinometer Casing
Installed in a borehole to monitor horizontal displacment
of the slope casing. Compatible with all commercially
available inclinometer probes, including RST’s Digital
MEMS Inclinometer Probe/System (manual readings)
and In-Place Inclinometers (automated readings).

Pictured Left: In-Place Inclinometer (G)

and Inclinometer Casing (H)

B FLEXDAQ Data Logger Systems

Allows for precise & reliable data acquisition from
various sensor types and gauges including vibrating
wire, thermistor, MEMS (analog and digital), Tensmeg,
linear potentiometer, strain gauge, LVDT, TDR,
etc. Ideal for remote data logging of various types
of geotechnical instrumentation used in dams,
tunnels, bridges, mines, and natural slopes.
I ‘ThermArray’
Provides precision thermal
gradient information in
geotechnical, geothermal,
C Piezometer and marine applications. Can
be used to detect seepage.
Monitor pore water pressures
in the ground in slopes, dams,
foundations, or embankments.

J Permeation Grout Monitor

A real-time display of key grouting
parameters during permeation grouting
to provide a record of pressure and
D Thermistor String
flow readings for quality control.
For accurate and reliable
long-term temperature
measurements under
demanding geotechnical
conditions. Can be used
to monitor seepage.

E Seepage Weir
Precision system for
accurately monitoring
water levels through dam
seepage channels.

Panoramic view of an earthfill dam under construction.

13 Pipeline Slope Monitoring 14

A Low Profile Spot Weldable Strain Gauge

Designed to be spot welded to various steel E DT2485 Data Logger for DT-BUS Sensors
structures, such as tieback anchors, rebar and Battery powered, radio enabled, unattended
pipelines. Effectively monitors strain. monitoring of In-Place Inclinometer Strings
and other digital bus (DT-BUS) sensors.

B Piezometer
Monitor pore water pressures
in the ground in slopes, dams,
foundations, or embankments.

F Secondary Enclosure
A secondary enclosure used to
C DT2055B - 5/10 Channel house select “DT Series” Data
Vibrating Wire/Thermistor Data Logger Loggers. The cover can be
Battery powered, radio enabled, unattended removed to allow easy access to
monitoring of up to 10 sensors which may the internally housed data logger.
be any mix of vibrating wire sensors and
thermistors, typically 5 vibrating wire sensors
with their associated thermistors.

D H In-Place Inclinometer
and Inclinometer Casing
G FLEXDAQ Data Logger Systems
Installed in a borehole to monitor horizontal
Allows for precise & reliable data acquisition from
displacment of the slope casing. Compatible with
various sensor types and gauges including vibrating
all commercially available inclinometer probes,
wire, thermistor, MEMS (analog and digital), Tensmeg,
including RST’s Digital MEMS Inclinometer
linear potentiometer, strain gauge, LVDT, TDR,
Probe/System (manual readings) and In-Place
etc. Ideal for remote data logging of various types
Inclinometers (automated readings).
of geotechnical instrumentation used in dams,
tunnels, bridges, mines, and natural slopes.
Pictured Left: In-Place Inclinometer (D)
and Inclinometer Casing (H)

Low Profile Spot Weldable

Strain Gauge shown installed
on a pipeline prior to being
covered for protection.
SINCE 1977

We make monitoring instruments.

You make sound decisions.

HEAD OFFICE:
RST Instruments Ltd.
11545 Kingston St.,
Maple Ridge, BC
V2X 0Z5 Canada

CANADA & USA: Sales + Service + Manufacturing

EMAIL | [email protected]
TELEPHONE | 604 540 1100
TOLL FREE | 1 800 665 5599

EUROPE / MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA: Sales

TELEPHONE | +44 1449 613677

www.rstinstruments.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods,
without the prior written permission of RST Instruments Ltd.
RST Instruments Ltd. reserves the right to change specifications
without notice. ©2018 RST Instruments Ltd. MIB0610A