“Up until about a year and a half ago we were using a different solu- tion for deformation monitoring,” said Jameson. “But a combination of cost and the fact that it had so many features we knew we’d never use, prompted us to talk to Topcon —we’ve never looked back since. For us, the Topcon system is all inclusive. After the fact I didn’t have to buy a $19,000 module for the adjustment software; I didn’t have to do any manual programming to control the gun via external modem and communications. Everything came in one package and that’s been Seven individual stations along the line —Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Merillon Ave., Mineola Ave., Carle Place, Westbury and Hicksville — are also undergoing major renovations as part of the project, including construction of longer station platforms to accommodate full-length trains. Vibranalysis will have ADMS packages located at each major work location, positioning components in a number of ways (on pedes- tals, poles, rooftops, abutments, etc.), depending on the specific need. “This protocol will allow us to monitor the adjacent receptors to deter- mine whether there is any construction-related movement or vibration that could potentially cause damage,” said Jameson. “We are conduct- ing similar work near the Mineola station at the site of a new a new five-level, 550-space parking garage. There, we’ve mounted a pair of the MS05AXII total stations in enclosures atop stout, 10-foot high poles (for added security) and we will install optical prisms to moni- tor both the adjacent structures and the excavation’s SOE (support of excavation) wall.” a huge benefit for us.” Committed to Prism Efforts Paying Off Since upping its game, Vibranalysis has been involved in some truly high-profile projects throughout the NYC metro area, including a 40-story project named “42 Trinity Place” in the financial district; the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island; work associated with The High Line, a former elevated railway that has been repurposed into a 1.45 mile pedestrian greenway; and most recently, the massive TSX Broadway project which will eventually see the Palace Theater raised in its entirety some 35-feet to create additional retail space. “We’ve worked hard to build this facet of the business and have been steadily seeing the fruits of those labors,” said Jameson. “In fact we recently landed several projects in the Los Angeles area which is not only a huge step forward for us, it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase our expertise to an entirely new market. We’re landing some great projects, we have outstanding people working for us — some of whom have been with the company for well over a decade — and our equipment has been effective, versatile, and extremely reliable. On the TSX project, we will be doing things that I think only three or four other firms like ours in the world can do. And we’re proud to be a part of projects like the LIRR expansion which will have a real, positive impact on so many people. I’d say we’re positioned exactly where we need to be.”
“When I came onboard, business in the city was tough, especially with regard to new development,” he said. “At the time Linda had had about six employees, including office staff; essentially only three people in the field and a small fleet of equipment. However, after identifying a real need for technological advancement in our industry — and know- ing we had the strengths to meet that need — we repositioned our firm as the region’s premier source for precision monitoring and analysis. That effort paid solid dividends in terms of new work and helped us get to where we are today. Total Monitoring Package To gather the data needed to determine if construction is having an adverse effect on nearby assets, Vibranalysis is equipping each of the seven Main Line stations with a fully Automated Deformation Moni- toring System (ADMS) from Topcon Positioning Systems. The system is centered around a Topcon MS05AXII total station which provides angular accuracies of 0.5”; reliable distance accuracy at 0.5 mm; customizable 2D monitoring; and an autocollimation accuracy of 1”. Unlike conventional total stations that simply lock on to the nearest tar- gets, the MS05AXII autocollimation system allows the instrument to lock on to targets that are closest to the center view of the instrument, providing long-range precision and accuracy even in low- light conditions. The ADMS also includes a Topcon Delta Link controller which pro- vides support for autonomous operation of the total station in the field, and offers communications options that include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and a globally approved integrated cellular modem (data SIM provided by third parties). To ensure uninterrupted operation and data transfer during any short power outages, Jameson’s team added a solar panel at each ADMS installation to complement the 110/240 VAC standard power supply and internal battery backup. Data from the total station is handled via Topcon Delta Watch software which can process and analyze it individually or as a network-adjusted solution. While Vibranalysis is obviously committed to the Topcon ADMS — they currently operate more than 15 systems — such was not always the case.
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july 2020
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