IDS GeoRadar RockSpot User manual

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RockSpot
User Guide
October 2021

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IDS GeoRadar User Guide QGG/2020/002 Rev. 1.1
1Important Information about your Instrument
Read and follow the Quick Guide before using the product or the accessories delivered
with the product.
☞
Keep for future reference!
Intended use
The intended use is the real time detection of fast-moving geological event, such as
rockfall, debris flow, snow avalanche, etc. in one of the following possible environments:
•open pit mines and quarries
•natural landslides
•glaciers
•snowy slopes
•tailing dams.
The product must not be disposed with household waste.

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Conformity to
European
regulations
This equipment is compliant with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions
of Directive 2014/53/UE.
The full Declaration of its Conformity can be found either on the CD or a separate document
included with this product.
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment it may cause radio interference. If so, the
user may need to take adequate measures.
Conformity to
U.S regulations.
FCC Use limits
The RockSpot sensor is granted by FCC approved, according to the Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 90, Subpart F, Private land mobile radio
services; Radiolocation Service. In order to use the sensor in the US territory, a license of
utilization must be obtained by FCC. The license application can be submitted to the following
website: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home
Electronic
This product poses no health and safety risk when operated in the normal manner of the
intended use.
FCC statements:
. This device complies with FCC Part 15. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
. This device complies with Health Canada's Safety Code. The installer of this device
should ensure that RF radiation is not emitted in excess of the Health Canada's requirement.

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Information can be obtained at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-
semt/pubs/radiation/radio_guide-lignes_direct-eng.php.
. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
.
. This product complies with FCC and ISED radiation exposure limits set forth for an
uncontrolled environment. The antenna should be installed and operated with minimum
distance of 30 cm between the radiator and your body.
Conformity to
Canada
regulations.
The RockSpot sensor is granted by ISED as a license exempt low power device, according to
RSS-210 Issue 10, Annex F, F.1. Operating band is 10.50-10.55 GHz, with a maximum EIRP of
32.7dBm. Within the above mentioned limitation in terms of band and emitted power,
ROCKSPOT can be used in Canada, without any license.
For more information about licensing procedure contact IDS GeoRadar personnel.
ISED Statements:
. Cet appareil est conforme FCC Partie15. Son utilisation est soumise Les deux
conditions suivantes: (1) cet appareil ne peut pas provoquer d'interfrences et (2) cet
appareil doit accepter Toute interfrence, y compris les interfrences qui peuvent causer un
mauvais fonctionnement du dispositif.
. Cet appareil est conforme avec SantCanada Code de scurit6. Le programme
d'installation de cet appareil doit s'assurer que les rayonnements RF n'est pas mis au-del

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de I'exigence de SantCanada. Les informations peuvent tre obtenues: http://www.hc-
sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/radiation/radio_guide-lignes_direct-eng.php
. Les changements ou modifications non expressment approuvs par la partie
responsable de la conformitpourraient annuler l'autoritde l'utilisateur utiliser cet
quipement.
. This device contains license-exempt transmitter(s)/receiver(s) that comply with
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's license-exempt RSS(s). Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
. L'metteur/rcepteur exempt de licence contenu dans le prsent appareil est conforme
aux CNR d'Innovation, Sciences et Dveloppement conomique Canada applicables aux
appareils radio exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorise aux deux conditions
suivantes:
1. L'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage;
2. L'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radiolectrique subi, mme si le brouillage est
susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
. Cet appareil est conforme aux limites d'exposition aux rayonnements de l’ISED pour un
environnement non contrôlé. L'antenne doit être installé de façon à garder une distance
minimale de 30 centimètres entre la source de rayonnements et votre corps.

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Canadian Representative:
Company Name: Leica Geosystems Ltd
Company Number: 3177B
Company Address: 1-3761 Victoria Park Ave
City: Scarborough
Province/State: Ontario
Postal Code: M1W 3S2
Country: Canada
Contact Name: Sudha Sachdeva
Phone Number: [phone]
Email: sudha.sachde[email protected]om

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1.1 Symbols
Warning messages are an essential part of the Safety Concept of the instrument. They appear wherever hazards or
hazardous situations can occur.
1.1.7
WARNING
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
1.1.8
DANGER
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation or an unintended use which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury.
1.1.9
CAUTION
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation or an unintended use which, if not avoided, may
result in minor or moderate injury.
Supplementary safety information may be placed as notice message with the symbol indicated below.
Note text/to keep in mind.

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2Hazard of use
NOTICE: Watch out for erroneous measurement results if the product has been dropped or has been
misused, modified, stored for long periods or transported.
Precautions:
Periodically carry out test measurements and perform the field adjustments indicated in the user
manual, particularly after the product has been subjected to abnormal use and before and after
important measurements.
NOTICE: If the accessories used with the product are not properly secured and the product is
subjected to mechanical shock, for example blows or falling, the product may be damaged.
Precautions:
When setting-up the product, make sure that the accessories are correctly adapted, fitted, secured,
and locked in position. Avoid subjecting the product to mechanical stress.
NOTICE: Only IDS GeoRadar authorized technical service are entitled to repair this product.

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1.1.10
DANGER
During the setup and the use of the product, the user must take care of the danger
related to the environment surrounding the product, such as obstacles, excavations,
traffic etc…
Precautions
During the operations of the product, the user must be fully aware of the existing
dangers.
1.1.11
DANGER: During the setup of the product, the user must take care of the danger related
to installing and working at height.
Precautions:
During the installation and setup of the product, the user must be fully aware of the
existing dangers related to work at height such as the use of ladders, step-ladders, etc.
1.1.12
DANGER: Because of the risk of electrocution, it is dangerous to use poles and extensions
near electrical installations such as power cables or electrical railways.
Precautions:

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1.1.13
DANGER: If the product is used with accessories, you may increase the risk of being struck by
lightning.
Precautions:
Do not use or maintain the product in a thunderstorm.
1.1.14
CAUTION: High mechanical stress, high ambient temperatures or immersion into fluids can
cause leakage, fire or explosions of the batteries.
Precautions:
Protect the batteries from mechanical influences and high ambient temperatures.
Do not drop or immerse batteries into fluids.
1.1.15
DANGER
Inadequate securing of the working site can lead to dangerous situations, for example in
traffic, on building sites, and at industrial installations.
Precautions:
Always ensure that the working site is adequately secured. Adhere to the regulations
governing safety and accident prevention and road traffic.
Keep at a safe distance from electrical installations. If it is essential to work in this
environment, first contact the safety authorities responsible for the electrical
installations and follow their instructions.

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1.1.16
DANGER: During the transport, shipping or disposal of batteries, inappropriate mechanical
influences can create a fire hazard.
Precautions:
Before shipping the product or disposing of it, discharge the batteries by running the product
until they are flat.
When transporting or shipping batteries, the person in charge of the product must ensure
that the applicable national and international rules and regulations are observed. Before
transportation or shipping contact your local passenger or freight transport company.
DANGER: During the setup of the product, the user must take care of the danger related to
installing and working at height.
Precautions:
During the installation and setup of the product, the user must be fully aware of the existing
dangers related to work at height such as the use of ladders, step-ladders, etc.
DANGER: Do not install the system in closed or indoor environments and do not point the
system on individuals or animals
Precautions:
Install the system only in open space environment and point the radar far from individuals
and animals.

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DANGER: Do not install or maintain the system without wearing Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE).
Precautions:
Install the system using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as protective and high visibility
clothing, hard helmets, rigger gloves safe goggles, safe steel-toe boots.
DANGER: High voltage (110-230 VAC) in the CU
Precautions:
In order to operate on the internal components of the CU for maintenance purposes switch
OFF the system, Unplug the AC cable and insert the LockOut-TagOut (LO-TO) device (metal
bar) before opening the CU.
DANGER: sharp- cutting edges
Precautions:
Apply isolating or Dutch tape on the sharp-cutting edge of the metallic ties that fix the CU and
SU, after HW installation.
DANGER: Because of the risk of electrocution and static currents, it is dangerous to use
external AC generator without proper grounding.

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Precautions:
Ensure proper grounding-earthing system to the AC generator.
WARNING: the base of the pole is 45 cm large and needs a concrete block (80 kg of minimum
weight) to be fixed using 8 chemical anchors, provided with the pole. Make sure pole is well
stable and fixed on its concrete block.
DANGER: High voltage (110-230 VAC) in the CU
Precautions:
In order to operate on the internal components of the CU for maintenance purpose switch
OFF the system, unplug the AC cable and insert the LockOut-TagOut (LO-TO) device (metal
bar) before opening the CU

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3SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
IDS GeoRadar RockSpot is a remote sensing monitoring system, capable of detecting in real-time the occurrence of
sudden falling of rocks, mudflows, avalanches or any similar falling event related to geological/environmental hazards
hereinafter called Sudden Falling Event (in short SFE) and to provide corresponding real-time tracking. IDS GeoRadar
stress out that RockSpot has not been designed as an automatic decision-making system; in fact, it has been designed
for providing information and notification to the Decision Maker. Critical decisions about reactive measures to be taken
with reference to sudden falling event related to geologic hazard must be taken by the Decision Maker under his
exclusive responsibility.
Examples of SFEs include rock avalanches, snow avalanches, debris flows, mud flows, rapid collapse of earth-made
structures.
Even if RockSpot helps in reducing the risks of damages caused by the above mentioned hazards, it cannot guarantee
the complete removal of these risks.
RockSpot is an instrument devoted to the detection and notification of SFEs during the event course itself. RockSpot is
not effective in early warning notifications and it is not possible to set up proper alerts prior to SFE.
Like any other radar device, RockSpot may be subjected to false positives (detections triggered in the absence of a real
SFE or unwanted detections), and false negatives (missing detections). Moreover, in some specific conditions (weather,
radar line of sight, geometry, kinematics, interferences), missing detection (false negative) of a moving object can also
happen. The probability of missing detections depends on the power of backscattered signal from moving object, which
in turn depends on various factors (weather, radar line of sight, geometry, kinematics) and changes from scenario to
scenario. In the implementation of a safety-critical system for SFE real time alert, it is required to use Rockspot in
conjunction with other measurements sensors or measures to validate the notifications triggered by RockSpot.
To set up an effective SFE alerting system, RockSpot must be used in conjunction with other sensors, such as

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seismometers, trigger lines, geophones etc. to maximize detection probability, minimize false alert rates and to
increase redundancy. In some conditions the sensors could be ineffective to provide the desired protection (e.g. a high
rate of rock falls, short falling time etc.) and construction/barriers measures must be applied. It is end user
responsibility to assess the proper system setup for effective protection against SFEs. RockSpot must not be intended
as an equipment to be used alone or as a replacement of other effective protection measures.
The suitability of using the RockSpot system for SFEs alerts to the Decision Maker must be carefully evaluated by the
user against the specific scenario to be monitored. For instance, depending on the height and fall angle of the SFEs, the
travel time of SFE could be too short to provide effective protection. In case SFE events are too frequent, the adoption
of other construction protective measures should be considered.
It is also recommended to perform a trial period with the system in the scenario to be monitored prior to put it into
operation, in order to tune the optimal setup for the system parameters and verify the suitability of the system for the
specific application/scenario.
Although RockSpot has been designed to allow 24/7 continuous monitoring, the product is not a Safety Instrumented
System (SIS) and does not include the self-checking redundant circuitry/software functions that are necessary to
control critical processes and to avoid adverse Safety, Health and Environmental (SH&E) consequences.
3.1 PerformanceSpecifications
Intrinsic system specifications are listed in this paragraph. Actual performance may strongly depend on external
factors listed in Table 4.
3.1.1 Detection
The following specifications refer to a system operating a single Survey Unit.

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Parameter
Value
Operating range
50 m - 2000 m
Azimuth FoV
80°
Elevation FoV
40°
Rockfall speed detection
> 1 m/s
Table 1–RockSpot detection specifications (single Survey unit configuration)
RockSpot radar is able to detect single rockfalls with rock-sizes greater than 2 m at 1000 m. In the following table the
approximative trend of detectable rock sizes versus the distance from the radar.
Distance from the radar
Rock size
500 m
0.6 m
1000 m
2.5 m
2000 m
10 m
Tab. 1 –Rockfalls indicative rock size vs distance from the radar.
It must be stressed that these figures must be intended as pure indicative values; actual performance can greatly
differ, depending on many factors such as the radar-rock line of sight, rock material, number of rocks in the
avalanche, angle of fall and velocity, weather conditions etc.

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Event detection performance of RockSpot are highly dependent on the
rock size and on their number (or on the size of the avalanche), distance,
fall angle, velocity, maximum emitted power, atmospheric conditions,
etc.
3.1.2 Tracking
Parameter
Value
Tracking range resolution
4 m
Tracking azimuth accuracy
Up to 1°
Track update frequency
Up to 2 Hz
Table 2 –RockSpot tracking specifications (single Survey unit configuration)
Tracking azimuth accuracy of Rockspot are highly dependent on the rock size and number (or size of
the avalanche), distance, fall angle, velocity, maximum emitted power, atmospheric conditions etc.
3.1.3 Alert Activation

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Parameter
Value
Physical alertalert
activation
Can trigger up to 4 independent external
alert devices addressed to the Decision
Makeralert
Remote alertalert
notifications
e-mail and text-messages
Table 3 - RockSpot alert activation specifications
3.1.4 Environmental Specifications
Parameter
Value
Operating Temperature
-40 °C ÷ +55 °C
Protection
IP65
Operating conditions
Designed to operate in any weather conditions.
Detection, Tracking and Alert activation performance functions may be affected by strong
wind, presence of vegetation, heavy rain or snow falls.
Dimension Control Unit
62 cm x 47 cm x 22 cm
Dimensions Survey Unit
50 cm x 37 cm x 20 cm
Weight Control Unit
27 kg
Weight Survey Unit
12 kg

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Supply
110/230 V AC –24 V DC
Supply autonomy
Continuous AC or DC power input required. Integrated backup batteries prevent sudden
system shut down in case of temporary lack of external power.
Power Consumption CU
70 W
Power Consumption SU
45 W (single unit)
Table 4 –Environmental specifications.
3.1.5 Radio-Equipment Specifications
Parameter
Value
RF operating band
EU:10.50 –10.60 GHz
USA: 10.40 –10.50 GHz
Canada: 10.50 –10.55 GHz
Emission bandwidth
EU/USA 100 MHz
Canada 50 MHz
Maximum power at
the antenna
connector
EU: 17 dBm
USA: 31 dBm
Canada: 23.7 dBm
Antenna Gain
9 dB
Equivalent Isotropic
EU: 26 dBm

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Radiated Power
(EIRP)
USA: 40 dBm
Canada: 32.7 dBm
Signal modulation
FMCW
Certifications
CE, FCC, ISED
Table 5 - RockSpot radio-equipment specifications.