Turtle Mountain Sensor Network

To provide warning of movement and to understand better how South Peak is moving, Alberta Geological Survey is monitoring deformation, climate and seismicity.

Deformation: Because we don't fully understand how South Peak is moving, between 2003 and 2005, we installed an arrangement of sensors to measure displacement and tilt.

These sensors have

• 22 crackmeters
• 10 tiltmeters
• 5 surface wire extensometers
• 19 reflective prisms
• 11 dGPS receivers.

AGS installed these sensors in a wide array around South Peak to measure movement of the large blocks of rock on South Peak. By comparing these sensors groups with other remote-sensing techniques, we should gain a better understanding of the style and rate of movement.

Climatic Factors: To understand better how climate influences the rock mass movements, a weather station was installed on South Peak. Sensors on the weather station include a tipping-bucket rain gauge, barometer, thermometer, wind gauge and devices to measure solar radiation. When deformations occur, the weather data are key to determining if climate contributed to the movement.

Seismicity: We installed a six-station passive seismic network to detect seismic activity caused by slope movements, rock falls, collapse of nearby abandoned mines or natural seismicity in the region. These stations were spread out between the south peak and the toe of the mountain to provide a wide coverage area to help locate the source of seismic events in this array.

All regular monitoring is automatic and data are sent via a wireless data link in near real-time to the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, where preliminary analysis occurs. A warning management system automatically notifies officials should any change occur on the mountain that warrants further investigation by experts. See the overview map (below) for a layout of the sensor network installed on South Peak.

Click on image to enlarge.