Manufacturer of geotechnical and structural monitoring instrumentation Soil Instruments reports that several instrumentation companies are proactively considering new technologies to offer improved monitoring solutions to customers.

In order to offer these solutions, Soil Instruments is currently carrying out research and development for trial systems using fibre-optic monitoring systems.

“The extensive use of these fibre- optic monitoring system sensors, a high- accuracy global positioning system, monitoring systems and intelligent serial sensors enables instruments to be daisy- chained using one cable, rather than individual cables from each sensor, which greatly reduces cabling costs,” says Soil Instruments international sales manager Richard Marshall.

Soil Instruments has also developed a wireless sensor network for cable-free monitoring systems, with intelligent modules that transfer data back to a central data logger.

“We now frequently use robotic total stations for optical monitoring of surface and underground structures,” he adds.

Soil Instruments’ Southern African distributor, Geotechnical Instrumenta-tion (GI) MD Corrie Filmalter says that GI aims to introduce new technologies to work alongside conventional monitoring systems. GI is working closely with Soil Instru-ments to ensure a strong synergy between manufacturer, distributor and installation companies.

“This builds a formidable company committed to providing quality products and a long-term professional service to customers. “Knowing you have the support and resources of an international, innovative and dynamic manufacturer behind you is reassuring and can only enhance our ser-vice,” says Filmalter.

Meanwhile, Marshall forecasts a positive future for instrumentation companies that can be flexible to adapt to the changing markets, embrace new technologies and maintain their focus on long-term monitoring solutions, rather than just selling an instrument.

He reports that preparations for the future include geotechnical instrumenta- tion companies, such as Soil Instruments, which are increasing their work in growing markets such as India, South Africa and China.

“Our company is already represented in over 40 countries and we have plans to expand our worldwide network of distributors this year,” Marshall says.

GI has also been involved in significant projects in Southern Africa over the past few years, including the Berg river and the Maguga, the Mohale and Ntimbali dams, as well as the Lower Usuthu smallholder irrigation project, which involves the construction of three dams on the Mhlatuzane and Golome rivers and a saddle dam to form an off-river reservoir to store water diverted from wet season flood flows in the Usuthu river.

Filmalter says that the future of the Southern African geotechnical instrumentation market is positive.

“There is an extensive dam building programme, as well as other large con- struction projects proposed over the next two decades, which indicates a promising outlook for this year and the future,” he says. Filmalter says that, internationally, geotechnical instrumentation companies have managed to weather the global reces- sion.

GI is also looking to increase market share in the construction, mining and environmental sectors as it believes that these have good growth potential.