Formatted Title
Innovative Automated Data Acquisition System Empowers In Situ Remediation Projects
Background/Objectives
Background/Objectives. Injection parameters are generally collected during in situ remediation projects and can be an asset to project teams evaluating sites. These data are valuable for cross-referencing remedial designs to the field applications, offer better real-time understanding of site characteristics, and provide the analysis of post-treatment trends. Injection data collection is traditionally carried out by manually reading and recording standard field pressure and flow gauges. Manual data collection is time consuming, uses low resolution, prone to human error, and often prevents the deeper analysis this rich data source can provide to in situ remediation scientists. The objective of automated data collection is to capture accurate, high-resolution data through a less time-consuming methods for onsite project personnel.
Approach/Activities
Approach/Activities. An automated data acquisition system was designed and programmed to capture the injection point location identification, target injection interval, injection pressure, injection flow rate, gallons injected, and dose of amendment(s). Using this system, data are captured at a selectable time frequency accurate to a fraction of a second. The new automated system’s accuracy was factory-tested and verified prior to implementation on in situ remediation projects with varying site characteristics and application approaches. The data packages collected on these projects provided a higher resolution when compared to data packages recorded manually.
Results/Lessons Learned
Results/Lessons Learned. Lessons learned have made clear the benefits of utilizing automated data acquisition systems capable of recording multiple parameters at sub-second time intervals, thus greatly increasing the temporal data resolution of injection processes. The benefits of using an automated data acquisition system on remediation projects will be presented as compared to manual data collection methods. The data system was found to increase site efficiency by reducing the burden of manual recording and increase the accuracy of the recorded data. Ultimately, the automated data system and resultant data packages help project personnel to better understand aquifer response to amendment injection and distribution, refine site characterization, and evaluate trends of in situ remediation projects. Subsequent analysis of higher frequency collected data provides greater insight during post-application performance assessment and troubleshooting. Details of the acquisition’s systems design will be presented along with representative data packages drawing conclusions on the benefits of utilizing automated data acquisition systems capable of recording multiple parameters at sub-second time intervals, thus increasing the temporal data resolution of injection programs.