Gravity geophysical instruments

Tender description

This project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the procurement is dependent on the final funding agreement. The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply and installation of a transportable gravity gradiometer for the detection of underground targets such as buried infrastructure (culverts, sewers, tunnels), mineshafts or voids. This will be used to act as a characterisation tool for the UKCRIC National Buried Infrastructure Facility, to characterise test sites in the field for the Geophysics project within the Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Timing, and to provide currently unavailable gravity gradiometry data to the geophysics community. Moreover, the gradiometer and survey data will be continuously used for demonstration to end-users throughout the research programme, creating early market pull for the sensors coming being developed in the Hub. This project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the procurement is dependent on the final funding agreement. Overall budget for this item is up to 1 166 666,66 GBP + VAT, delivery to the NBIF, training and manuals and warranties over the length of the hub grant. The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply of a transportable gravity gradiometer for the detection of underground targets such as buried infrastructure (culverts, sewers, tunnels), mineshafts or voids. This will be used to act as a characterisation tool for the UKCRIC National Buried Infrastructure Facility, to characterise test sites in the field for the Geophysics project within the Quantum Technology Hub, and to provide currently unavailable gravity gradiometry data to the geophysics community. Moreover, the gradiometer and survey data will be continuously used for demonstration to end-users throughout the research programme, creating early market pull for the sensors being developed by the Hub. General characteristics: Specification: 1) Sensitivity of 750 E/√Hz; 2) Rejection of vertical vibration and seismic noise to -140 dB; 3) Able to obtain measurement outputs within 60 s integration time while static on point; 4) Stability of 100 E/day and <20 E during survey movements (i.e. excluding transport) including providing sufficient tilt alignment capability and protection against external noise sources to meet this requirement; 5) Provide subsidiary data outputs including GPS position, time, orientation including live vertical alignment data to the user, any internal diagnostics needed to interpret sensor data; 6) Operable, including moving from point to point and vertical alignment, by 2 operators who are trained in the use of geophysical survey equipment (but with no physics background); 7) Operable on surfaces including tarmac, concrete and soft grounds (grass, soft soil); 8) Operable between 0º C-30º C and up to wind speeds qualifying as a fresh breeze (8-10.7 m/s); 9) Battery operation for 8 hours, with mains override; 10) Start-up time of 90 minutes from cold start, or fifteen minutes from cool start; 11) Transportable in a single vehicle of up to 3 500 kg such as a Luton van; 12) Requiring limited calibration on site; 13) Maintenance up to 30.11.2024.