Field instrumentation
Appropriate low cost, easy-to-use field equipment is a critical element of the MoSSaiC vision. Simple telltales for crack monitoring on buildings can readily facilitate the determination of whether a crack is static, cyclic or progressive and thus provide an inexpensive method of assessing the significance to the structure. Importantly, installation, readings and interpretation can be undertaken by the Community.
A similarly effective approach can be taken to water table monitoring. A power auger can be used to install piezometer tubing to allow Community residents to read water table conditions for themselves. The Ministry of Communications field team has already installed such piezometers on roadcut slope sections in St Lucia as part of the MoSSaiC programme.
Field survey methods are important for obtaining accurate slope profiles for stability analysis. A total station has been used by the St Lucia Ministry of Communications field team as part of the MoSSaiC programme concerned with slope hazard and risk analysis.