Engineering Seismology Areas of Activities
In relation to underground metal mining the Institute provides the following services
Engineering Seismology department has been actively conducting research and development on the application of seismic and microseismic technique for the structure stability monitoring as per the challenges of mining and civil engineering industry. NIRM has first introduced this advanced real time monitoring technique in the Indian mining and civil engineering industry.
The Institute has developed expertise in tailor made design and installation of microseismic monitoring networks for conducting the real time field strata monitoring remotely, and processing & interpretation of data to forewarn the instability occurrence of the underground space structures. The department has also designed and installed real time microseismic strata monitoring system for hydropower projects in powerhouse caverns of NTPC Ltd., and DGPC, Bhutan.
Environmental and Exploration Geophysics
Environmental and Exploration Geophysics Dept. works with an objective of carrying out research and application using geophysical techniques for near surface imaging and geophysical monitoring of slopes, underground structures and critical structures. The prime concern of the geophysical activities is to address various environmental issues related to urban and industrial belts with a view of find solutions to inevitable environmental degradation and damages that lingers around as an after effect of rapid developments requiring excavation, construction and industrialisation.
Typical areas of work are urban land use planning and construction, nuclear power stations, hydroelectric projects, strategic underground structures, subsurface utilities imaging and investigation for vulnerability to natural and unnatural hazards (earthquake and landslide). As part of the efforts, the aim is to aid safety and stability of important structures by combining geological, geophysical and geotechnical information of a site. Thus, the department is also in endeavour for geophysical contribution to environmental impact assessment.