Proof-of-concept testing of a deep seismic communication device - SME Transactions 2009

A mine collapse severs communication with trapped miners. Landlines are crushed and commercially available radios cannot penetrate hundreds of feet of dense, conductive earth without the use of regenerative repeaters that may also be crushed. This paper describes a proof-of-concept device that uses seismic P-waves, instead of radio waves, to allow communication of a code that represents prearranged messages, including the safe haven location identifier, number of people and air quality, from trapped miners to aboveground rescue units. The transmitter designed is about 0.03 m3 (1 ft3) in size and can broadcast for four hours from its 27-kg (60-lb) battery pack. The receiver consists of a geophone and a 2.5-kg (5.5- lb) signal conditioning unit attached to a laptop computer, which displays the communication signal in real time. Testing in a bituminous coal mine with an MSHA representative revealed the device was able to transmit through 271 m (890 ft) of overburden, at 0° and 12° from vertical, using 500 W of power.