Computer Monitoring in the Grouting Industry

Computer monitoring and specialized equipment in the grouting industry has undergone multiple levels of technological advancement over the past two decades. The implementation of these technologies over recent years has greatly enhanced the industry's ability to more efficiently collect and evaluate pertinent data. This has subsequently resulted in more reliable and sound decision making, an increase in efficiency, and ultimately, cost savings to the owner. Dreese et al. (2003) discussed advances in the grouting industry and defined Levels 1 to 3 Technology for real time monitoring and data collection. Level 3 Technology (Advanced Integrated Analytical Systems) represents the current level of advancement in real-time monitoring of grouting in the industry today. The multitude of technical challenges faced during any grouting project, includes assessing the geologic formation and identifying characteristics most likely to impact the grouting program. This paper documents the progression of the industry in using state of the art technologies to not only collect data and make real-time assessments of the formations response to grout injection, but also the use of high resolution images to evaluate discontinuities with the formation prior to injection, the implementation of digital photogrammetry for assessing outcrops and/or structures in three-dimension, assessment of Monitoring While Drilling (MWD) information and its integration, and real-time monitoring of instrumentation data for evaluating the formations immediate response to grout injection.