The Opportunity

PS&S provided vibration monitoring services at three historic structures in a listed historic district during the construction of a 30-mile, 30-inch natural gas transmission pipeline. The vibration monitoring and reporting was conducted pursuant to New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJHPO) requirements as part of archaeological monitoring services performed by the PS&S Cultural Resources team.

The Challenge

The vibration monitoring services included the preparation of a Vibration Control Plan, which detailed the measures for the monitoring and mitigation of vibration caused by construction activities within 300 feet of the three historic structures. The plan specified the appropriate equipment, means and methods, reporting requirements, communication protocols with the utility client and construction team, and stop work procedures in the event of vibration exceedance during construction.

The PS&S Solution

Prior to construction in the area proximate to the historic structures, PS&S scientists installed six separate Instantel MiniMate vibration monitoring units which consisted of two units installed adjacent to the portions of three historic structures located closest to the construction area. Once installed, vibration monitoring occurred between May to August and September to December in 2020. The vibration monitoring units recorded the vibration data 24 hours a day during that timeframe regardless of whether work activities were occurring proximate to the historic structures. Real time vibration data was available to the project team and each unit was capable of immediately notifying the project team if an exceedance of vibration was recorded beyond an allowable limit (0.500 inches per second measured as peak particle velocity). PS&S scientists prepared weekly vibration data summary reports for the client, and for inclusion into a letter report, prepared upon completion of the project. During construction, there were no vibration exceedances beyond the allowable limit set for the construction of the project in proximity to the historic structures and no damage to the structures was noted or observed.