Measurand's SAAV is designed to take on a cyclical shape around the inside of the casing as it is installed. To ensure the SAAV is properly seated in the correct cyclical shape, Measurand recommends lifting and pumping it in the casing prior to applying final compression. Measurand also recommends verifying that the SAAV has taken the appropriate cyclical shape by using the SAAV Installation Verification tool in our SAARecorder application.

WARNING: If you are installing a ShapeArray™ instrument in Low Power Mode for use with certain low power data loggers, then you will need to be using a model 004 SAAFPU interface with at least revision R.4B or a model 002 SAA232 interface with revision R.2B. Older interfaces are NOT supported. While the SAAV Installation Verification diagnostic is open, the instrument will temporarily be placed in regular power mode. When the SAAV Installation Verification window is closed, the instrument will automatically be returned to Low Power mode. Do NOT disconnect the ShapeArray™ instrument from the computer without closing the window or the instrument could be left in regular power mode.


In SAASuite 3.0 or higher, the SAARecorder application is launched by clicking the Manual Data Collection button.


Figure 1: Launch SAARecorder from SAASuite by clicking the Manual Data Collection button



Step 1 - Launch SAARecorder and Connect to the SAAV


First you must connect your computer to the SAAV with an appropriate interface. More information on properly connecting your computer and the SAARecorder application to a Measurand ShapeArray is available in the following articles in our Support web site.

NOTE: A pre-recorded raw data sample from SAARecorder (.RSA) or a Campbell Scientific data logger raw data file (.DAT) can be loaded into verification tool for analysis instead of being directly connected to the instrument. This is described in more detail in Step 3 below. 


Step 2 - Launch the SAAV Installation Verification Tool


Once your computer and SAARecorder are connected to the SAAV, you need to launch the SAAV Installation Verification tool from the Diagnostics menu in SAARecorder.


Figure 2: The SAAV Installation Verification tool is launched from the Diagnostics menu in SAARecorder


Step 3 - Input the Casing's Inner Diameter


In the SAAV Installation Verification window, if you are directly connected to the SAAV, ensure the Live Data option is selected. Alternatively, if you wish to analyze data saved in a raw data file (.RSA or .DAT), then select the Recorded Data option and click the Browse button to select the raw data file. Once your data source is selected, enter the inner diameter of the casing into which the SAAV is being installed in the Casing Inner Diameter field. For standard casings we would expect inner diameter values similar to the following.

  • 1" Schedule 40 PVC casing - 27 mm inner diameter
  • 70 mm outer diameter inclinometer casing - 59 mm inner diameter
  • 85 mm outer diameter inclinometer casing- 73 mm inner diameter


Figure 3: The casing's inner diameter must be entered into the Casing Inner Diameter field


NOTE: The Casing Inner Diameter value will need to be entered in millimetres or inches depending on SAARecorder's units setting. The units setting can be changed by selecting the SAA Setup | Units menu option.



Step 4 - Determine Whether the SAAV Has Achieved the Proper Cyclical Shape


As the SAAV takes on a cyclical shape within the casing, it will compress. The amount of compression in the instrument will determine how close the instrument is to the ideal cyclical shape within the casing. Pumping the SAAV by lifting it an appropriate height and dropping back into the casing to achieve an appropriate amount of compression will reduce the amount of settlement expected after installation. 


Once the SAAV is resting on the bottom of the borehole and you are connected to it with SAARecorder, lift the ShapeArray until it is hanging in the casing with one segment touching the bottom. When the last segment is resting on the bottom of the casing, most of the angles reported by the SAAV Installation Verification tool will be 0° except the last few segments. If there are bends in the borehole, the angle will increase to 1° or 2°. You should see a graph similar to what is shown in the figure below in the SAAV Installation Verification tool when the instrument has been lifted sufficiently.



Figure 4: An example of the point graph with the SAAV in the lifted position while pumping


Once you have lifted the SAAV enough to have only the last segment resting on the bottom of the casing, drop the ShapeArray such that it falls straight into the casing. Care should be taken to avoid impacts on the side of the casing. The array will drop into the hole with some friction from the joints resisting the movement. Manually apply some downward pressure to the SAAV (approximately 5 lbs) in order to compress it within the conduit and wait for the dot graph to settle and finish updating. Press the Capture Compression button. 


When first clicked, the Capture Compression button will prompt you to select a folder and filename into which compression data for the installation will be saved. 


Figure 5: Click Capture Compression button and select a location and filename for the compression data


Compression data will be saved to a plaintext, comma-delimited text file with a .DAT extension with the following naming scheme by default.


compressData_[serial_number]_[YYYY]_[MM]_[DD]_[HH]_[MM]_[SS].dat


Subsequent clicks on the Capture Compression button will append new readings to the selected file and will update a table of readings.


Figure 6. An example of the point graph with the SAAV in the dropped and compressed position while pumping


The SAAV should be lifted, dropped, and compressed repeatedly in this manner until three sequential readings of Compression listed in the table change by less than 1 mm. This should take approximately 10 to 15 lift and drops (pumps). When three sequential compression readings with less than 1 mm of change are recorded, a Green Light indicator will appear. 


When the Green Light indicator appears, click on the Create Report and Close button. This will generate a PDF report of the compression results with all of the values captured in the table in the window, as well as as a graph of those results.

WARNING: The SAAV Installation Verification tool has changed several times since the release of the SAAV. If your version of the software presents a different interface, then Measurand recommends updating to the latest release of the software. These older versions of the utility may still be used; however, the only value of interest for verifying the installation is the Compression value. The SAAV should be pumped and compressed until three consecutive readings of Compression change by less than 1 mm.

Once this is done, you will be ready to measure the azimuth offset for the X-mark.