A Rugged, Portable and Intelligent Analogue Seismometer for Future and Pre-Existing Arrays – Güralp Certis

Seismic networks often face logistical and financial challenges that require portability, longevity and interoperability with existing equipment.

Güralp have combined proven ocean bottom, borehole and digitiser technology to produce an analogue seismometer with intelligence that benefits networks of all sizes. The Güralp Certis is a broadband analogue instrument that incorporates specific aspects of its sister digital instrument (Certimus) while still remaining compatible with third-party digitisers.

Each Certis stores its own serial number, calibration and response parameters internally and will automatically communicate these to a connected Minimus digitiser. This allows seismometer-digitiser pairings to be changed without manual entry of new parameters. If using GDI-link streaming protocol with the Minimus, these metadata parameters are transmitted within (and therefore inseparable from) the datastream itself. Therefore, this small piece of intelligence in the analogue sensor removes the need for any manual re-entry of response parameters anywhere along the sensor-digitiser-client chain.

Certis enables users to install in locations with poor horizontal stability (e.g., glaciers, dynamic landslide scarps, water-saturated soils), without the need for cement bases or precise levelling, as the sensor can be deployed at any angle regardless of which model digitiser is connected. Due to its small size, low weight and ultra-low power consumption, Certis significantly reduces logistical efforts and makes short term temporary deployments far easier.

Certis addresses many challenges of traditional seismometer deployments, including cost, but provides a flexible and simple solution for seismic monitoring applications across all disciplines.