Wireless real-time sensing platform using vibrating wire-based geotechnical sensor for underground coal mines

Continuous, real-time and remote measurement of stress in underground coal mines plays a vital role in the safety of the mines. Vibrating wire-based geotechnical sensors are widely used for stress measurement of strata in underground coal mines. These types of sensors have several advantages over other geotechnical sensors. However, the measurements from these sensors are taken in-situ using conventional readout unit manually till date even in the case of deep underground coal mines where the depth of cover is more than 300 m. When sensor site moves to inaccessible places due to dynamic nature of mining, then the measurement is discontinued and instruments become abandoned. Also, sensors connected through wire get disconnected during movement of machinery, roof falls, and other associated hazards. Therefore, there is a need for wireless sensing platform for vibrating wire-based geotechnical sensors which can assess the stress on a real-time basis and obviate the impending mishap associated with the strata failure. Hence, in the present paper, authors have designed a prototype wireless real-time sensing platform for vibrating wire-based geotechnical sensors for continuous, real-time and remote monitoring of strata behavior. The laboratory trial and the field demonstration of the same have been carried out and compared with conventional readout. The results are in agreement.