EMPIR project on low-frequency sound and vibration raises awareness at major conference

Project increases understanding of the importance of metrology in this field, and how this can help detect natural disasters and nuclear explosions

Low frequency Acoustics, Underwater acoustics and Vibration phenomena in air, water and ground are used to detect major natural events such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity. Low frequency AUV is also used by the International Monitoring System (IMS) to check compliance with the provisional Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

EMPIR project Metrology for low-frequency sound and vibration (19ENV03, Infra-AUV), has developed new primary calibration methods for airborne and underwater acoustics, and vibration sensing systems. It has also provided traceability and reliability of sensors deployed in live environmental monitoring networks.

The consortium presented a training workshop on how to establish and maintain on-site measurement traceability of International Monitoring System stations at the recent SnT conference of CTBTO.

The conference was held in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria to more than 2,000 in-person and online attendees from 148 countries. During the event members of the Infra-AUV project were delighted to learn that their efforts to raise awareness on the importance of metrology in this area had made it all the way to the top of the CTBT organisation.

In his opening address the CTBT organisation Executive Secretary Dr Robert Floyd referred to the importance of metrology, and talked at length about the rationale and benefits including the statement that: “There is no measurement without agreed standards”.

In fact, the topic of metrology was a central theme during the conference. Members from the consortium presented two workshops on the role of metrology in improving confidence in International Monitoring System measurements , one on the laboratory calibration of instrumentation and a second on in-situ calibrations.

There were also several posters, presentations and an expert Discussion Panel featuring two members of the Infra-AUV project team.

The coordinator of this highly successful project, Thomas Bruns (PTB), said about the recent conference

“It was an exciting and educating bilateral learning experience between geoscience and metrology. I am sure both communities learnt a lot from each other during these few days.”

This EMPIR project is co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR Participating States.

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