Roctest is the premium, full-lifecycle partner for mission-critical infrastructure monitoring, specializing in real-time and long-term surveillance of dams, tunnels, bridges, buildings, pipelines, and embankments.
We are ISO 9001 certified and provide ISO-traceable calibration, delivering audit-ready documentation that supports compliance with regulatory standards including FHWA, AASHTO, USSD, and FERC.
We offer the TEXAMe, PROBEXe Extensometer, DMPe, Pencel and Boremac pressuremeters. These systems enable rapid testing and help determine defensible design parameters.
We provide an integrated ecosystem of Vibrating Wire (VW), MEMS, Resistive, LVDT, Fiber Optic Sensing, and In-Situ Geotechnical Testing Equipment including pressuremeters and dilatometers.
We provide robust geotechnical monitoring for underground excavations and slope stability. For tailings dam applications specifically, we use distributed leak and movement monitoring systems along with optical fiber piezometers.
Yes, we leverage our fiber optic technology for pipeline monitoring including leak detection and strain measurement. This application is experiencing significant global growth.
Yes, we provide high-fidelity, well-documented sensors with traceable calibration, open data access, APIs, and SDKs to enable reproducible research workflows and co-authorship opportunities.
We provide rugged, fast-to-install systems supported by our Field-Proven Installation Benchmarks & Video Library to reduce uncertainty and rework. We offer on-site and remote support plus training refreshers to ensure staff knowledge continuity.
Telemac brings over 75 years of experience designing comprehensive monitoring solutions for challenging infrastructure projects worldwide. They specialize in monitoring instrumentation for large civil engineering structures, particularly dams, bridges, nuclear power plants, and tunnels.
Smartec provides Distributed and Long-Gauge Fiber Optic Systems based on Brillouin/Raman scattering and FBG/SOFO respectively. For example, a single fiber optic cable can replace multiple discrete strain gauges, enabling real-time distributed measurement over kilometers with immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Yes, Roctest designs custom sensors and monitoring systems to meet specific needs, covering everything from purchase to installation, calibration, repairs, and training.
Roctest/Telemac/Smartec have partners worldwide. Check the Distributors Partners page on the Roctest website or contact Roctest directly.
Yes, Roctest/Telemac/Smartec offers training on installation, operation, and maintenance. Training is available globally.
Annual calibration is recommended. Do not exceed 3 years for instruments with batteries/electronics, or 5 years for other measurement instruments. Users should determine the exact interval based on usage frequency.
GEOSTRING is a distributed MEMS accelerometer system that enables continuous real-time monitoring of subsurface lateral and vertical displacements. It eliminates the need for periodic manual inclinometer surveys, leading to faster movement detection and reduced operational costs.
GEOSTRING uses MEMS sensors on a single cable to track ground movement in real-time. It’s affordable, easy to install, rugged, and reusable on several projects. Joints allow up to 90° bending for compact shipping.
Fiber optic sensors are highly accurate, immune to electromagnetic interference, safe in explosive environments, don’t require grounding, and maintain signal quality and real-time distributed measurement over long distances. A single cable can replace 50–80+ discrete sensors.
These solutions monitor tunnels, bridges, dams, ammonia and LNG pipelines, tailings dams, dikes, and embankments.
SOFO sensors are unique products for monitoring high-stakes structures including concrete buildings, bridges, and nuclear power plants. Their long-term reliability is proven through projects with 25+ years of continuous measurements.
Fiber optic systems can be integrated with various dataloggers or cloud platforms, streamlining data acquisition, management, and analytics across technologies including VW, and MEMS.
Pressuremeter tests work in most soils and rocks, providing in-situ stress-strain curves to estimate stiffness, strength, settlement, and foundation capacity. These tests suit projects where undisturbed samples or conventional tests are not possible or on larger projects where improved soil property information is warranted.
Follow ASTM D4719 guidelines for drilling to ensure the soil is not significantly disturbed thus affecting pressuremeter results. Rotary drilling with axial mud injection is especially versatile. Good results depend on careful adherence and monitoring using recommended indicators (E/Pl, Pl/Py ratios, shape of curve….).
Yes, up to 400 meters depth. However, the fluid-free section shouldn’t exceed about 150 meters. For depths beyond 200 meters, adjust the procedure and consult the instruction manual.
Initial saturation takes up to one hour with stainless steel filters, with later responses usually within seconds to minutes.
Yes, it blocks particles as small as 1 micron but takes up to 24 hours to reach equilibrium, compared to around 1 hour for stainless steel filters.
Installing more than two piezometers in a borehole is difficult using the standard method as bentonite pellets can stick to multiple cables in the BH and create restrictions. The fully grouted method is recommended for multiple installations.
Regular pressure readings are required. If measured pressure exceeds the sensor’s range, stop driving and wait for the pressure to dissipate.
Roctest does not recommend driving the piezometer to 20 meters depth. Usually, it should be driven only the last 0.5–1m of the borehole bottom.
Use in loose soils, ideally with SPT <10. Can be driven from a borehole. In harder soils, the piezometer may become over-pressurized or damaged. Refer to the manual for full guidelines.
Use ENERPAC HF-101 oil.
If pressure will not build above 8 MPa, there is a leak. Verify for external leaks first; if internal, the pump needs to be serviced by a hydraulic technician or sent back to Roctest for repair.
The cylinder effective area is 2.24 in² or 14.4 cm².
Geo-Lok can sustain up to 1% of settlement before the telescoping section is required.
Geo-Lok is compatible with most commercial inclinometer probes.
The annular space of an LNG tank cannot be physically inspected once construction is complete, because it is permanently sealed and filled with perlite insulation. The only way to obtain reliable data from within the annular space is through sensors installed before sealing during the original construction phase. These include fiber optic Tank Movement Monitoring Systems (TMMS), Distributed Temperature Sensors (DTS) for leak detection, and structural strain gauges embedded in the surrounding concrete.
Traditional temperature monitoring relies on multiple Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs) to produce a basic temperature profile. Roctest’s Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensor (DTS) uses a single fiber optic cable installed at different levels along the tank perimeter to generate a comprehensive, high-resolution temperature map of both the tank interior and the annular space. This makes leak detection dramatically faster and more precise, identifying thermal anomalies that signal potential breaches well before they become critical failures.
Fiber optic sensors are the preferred technology for LNG tank monitoring as they are intrinsically safe, meaning they are immune to electrical interference and spark risks. This makes them suitable for use in explosive atmospheres. They can withstand cryogenic temperatures down to -169°C on a permanent basis, unlike conventional electronic sensors. A single fiber optic cable can provide distributed measurements across the full perimeter of a tank, delivering far more data points than a network of discrete point sensors at a fraction of the installation complexity.
A Distributed Temperature Sensor, or DTS, uses a single fiber optic cable to generate a continuous temperature profile along its entire length. In LNG tank applications, a DTS cable installed at multiple levels along the tank perimeter provides comprehensive temperature mapping of both the tank interior and the annular space. This dramatically improves leak detection capability — thermal anomalies that indicate cryogenic breaches can be identified early and precisely, before they escalate to critical failures. DTS is significantly more effective than traditional Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) arrays, which provide only limited point measurements.
LNG leaks in storage tanks are most effectively detected through comprehensive temperature monitoring of the annular space. A cryogenic breach causes a distinct thermal anomaly — a localized cold spot — that a Distributed Temperature Sensor (DTS) system can identify rapidly and precisely. Traditional leak detection relying on discrete RTD sensors provides far fewer data points and may miss early-stage breaches or fail to pinpoint their location accurately. Fiber optic DTS systems installed during construction provide the most reliable and cost-effective leak detection available for LNG storage tanks.
LNG storage tank leaks are most commonly caused by structural failure of the inner wall resulting from undetected differential movement, cumulative thermal cycling fatigue, or unexpected settlement. Because the inner wall undergoes significant contraction at cryogenic temperatures during every operational cycle, structural stress accumulates over time. Without continuous monitoring of wall movement and temperature in the annular space, early indicators of breach risk go undetected until a leak or catastrophic failure occurs.
Yes — with the right instrumentation. Fiber optic Distributed Temperature Sensing systems continuously monitor temperature throughout the annular space and can identify thermal anomalies indicative of a developing breach well before a full leak occurs. Similarly, Tank Movement Monitoring Systems detect structural deformation patterns that may precede leakage. Early detection through integrated monitoring allows operators to take preventive action rather than responding to emergencies.
LNG facilities in seismically active regions require integrated structural monitoring systems capable of providing immediate post-event safety assessments. Real-time data from TMMS, tiltmeters, inclinometers, DTS, and strain sensors — all timestamped to the seismic event — allows operators to quickly determine whether tank walls have shifted, the foundation has settled unevenly, or temperature anomalies suggesting a breach have emerged.
Here are the rewritten FAQ answers, grounded in the DTS and temperature monitoring content:
The cost of DTS-based temperature monitoring is best understood relative to what it replaces and what it protects. A single DiTemp fiber optic cable installed during construction covers the entire tank perimeter and annular space delivering continuous, spatially resolved leak detection that would otherwise require hundreds of individual RTD sensors and wiring runs. Instrumentation installed at this stage represents a small fraction of overall project cost, while providing the only means of detecting a cryogenic breach before it escalates. The cost of not monitoring — in the form of undetected leakage, unplanned shutdowns, or catastrophic failure — consistently exceeds the cost of comprehensive DTS coverage.
Yes. Roctest’s DTS ecosystem is designed for full LNG terminal surveillance. The DiTemp system can monitor distributed temperature over distances of up to 30 km, making it suitable for covering multiple tanks, pipeline runs, and foundation slabs across an entire terminal from a single readout unit. Coverage extends to leak detection in permanently sealed annular spaces, thermal mapping of concrete slab bases for frost heave prevention, and real-time anomaly identification following seismic or operational incidents. All data feeds into DiView and from there into the control room PLC alongside daily operational information.
Yes. The DiTemp system communicates over standard industrial protocols including Modbus, Ethernet, and RS-485, and is designed to feed measurement data directly to any existing PLC platform. The DiView software provides an HMI-style graphical interface that displays temperature as a continuous color-mapped profile, making anomalies immediately visible to control room operators without specialist interpretation. The goal is a single unified data environment — not another isolated monitoring silo.
The DiTemp Harsh+ is built specifically for permanent deployment in the most demanding LNG environments — including cryogenic temperatures, potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX-certified), and the long operational cycles of LNG storage facilities. Fiber optic cables installed in the annular space and concrete slab conduits during construction are not accessible after commissioning, so the system is designed to operate without recalibration or physical intervention for the full facility life. The integrated ATTS self-test function runs simulated leak events every hour to continuously verify system availability, ensuring the monitoring capability remains reliable across decades of operation.
LNG tanks operate under extreme conditions. The inner wall is exposed to cryogenic temperatures around -169°C, causing significant thermal contraction during every loading and unloading cycle. This causes the inner wall to sink or shift horizontally relative to the outer wall. Because the annular space between the walls is permanently sealed and physically inaccessible, these movements are completely invisible without purpose-built instrumentation. Left undetected, they can lead to catastrophic structural failure or leakage.
Cryogenic thermal contraction refers to the physical shrinkage of the inner wall of an LNG storage tank as it is cooled to the operating temperature of liquefied natural gas, approximately -169°C. This contraction causes the inner wall to sink vertically and shift horizontally relative to the stable outer wall. Because these movements happen inside the sealed annular space, they cannot be observed or measured through conventional inspection methods — only through permanently installed structural monitoring sensors.
The annular space of an LNG tank cannot be physically inspected once construction is complete, because it is permanently sealed and filled with perlite insulation. The only way to obtain reliable data from within the annular space is through sensors installed before sealing during the original construction phase. These include fiber optic Tank Movement Monitoring Systems (TMMS), Distributed Temperature Sensors (DTS) for leak detection, and structural strain gauges embedded in the surrounding concrete.
Yes, and the regulatory landscape is always evolving. There are currently Federal regulations in parts of the world that mandate Linear and Rotational Tank Movement Indicators for LNG facilities.
The TMMS is Roctest’s purpose-built solution for monitoring differential movement between the inner and outer walls of an LNG tank. Specialized equipment is permanently installed during construction and continuously measures movement once the tank becomes operational. It monitors inner wall movement due to thermal cooling as well as any unexpected structural settlement or rotational shifts — providing early warning data that no other system can match.
The TMMS uses intrinsically safe fiber optic sensors specifically engineered for permanent deployment in cryogenic environments. They are rated to withstand -169°C on a continuous basis which are the same temperature the inner wall experiences during normal LNG operations.
TMMS equipment must be installed during the original construction of the LNG tank, before the annular space is sealed with perlite insulation. They can also monitor tank behavior during the Hydrotesting phase. Once the tank is sealed, installation is no longer possible. This makes early engagement during the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase or EPC planning critical — monitoring architecture must be designed into the construction sequence, not added as an afterthought.
Yes. Roctest’s integrated sensing ecosystem is designed for full LNG terminal surveillance, covering structural integrity of tanks, leak detection in the annular space, underground LNG storage facility deformation monitoring, as well as monitoring pipelines from the jetty to the tanks, and real-time safety assessment following seismic or fire events. All data feeds into a single control room PLC alongside daily operational information.
Yes. Roctest’s monitoring systems are designed to work with virtually any standard industrial protocol, including Modbus, and can integrate with any existing PLC platform. The goal is a single unified data environment, not another isolated monitoring silo
Structural health monitoring for LNG facilities refers to the continuous, automated measurement of physical parameters — including strain, temperature, displacement, settlement, inclination, and wall movement — throughout the lifecycle of LNG storage tanks, pipelines, and supporting infrastructure. A comprehensive structural health monitoring program provides real-time data on asset condition, early warning of developing anomalies, quality assurance during construction and hydro-testing, and defensible post-event safety assessments following earthquakes, fires, or other major incidents.
A comprehensive LNG tank monitoring program should track differential movement between inner and outer walls (TMMS), vertical settlement of the concrete slab using inclinometers, inclination of the outer wall using tiltmeters, axial and transverse outer wall movement using pendulum systems, strain and temperature distribution within the concrete slab and walls, and temperature mapping throughout the annular space and tank interior using Distributed Temperature Sensing.
LNG tank settlement — the gradual sinking of the concrete slab and foundation under the weight of stored LNG — is monitored using inclinometer probes inserted into horizontal inclinometer casings pre-installed in the concrete slab during construction. These probes measure the deflection profile of the slab, allowing engineers to detect uneven settlement that could stress the structure. Automated inclinometer systems provide continuous settlement data without requiring manual probe insertion.
Now I have a thorough understanding of the document. Here are the rewritten FAQ answers, grounded in the concrete slab and wall monitoring content:
? LNG concrete structures in seismically active regions benefit from Roctest’s integrated four-layer SHM system, which provides immediate post-event safety assessment. Real-time data from embedded vibrating wire, tiltmeters on the outer wall, foundation settlement inclinometers, and pendulum lateral displacement systems — all correlated to the seismic event — allows operators to quickly determine whether the concrete slab has settled unevenly, the outer wall has shifted or tilted, or internal stress levels in the concrete have exceeded safe thresholds.
Yes. Roctest’s concrete SHM instrumentation is designed to feed into a single unified data environment alongside the TMMS, DTS, and operational data already present in the control room. The goal is a consolidated view of structural condition — not another isolated monitoring silo — so that operators can correlate concrete structure data with annular space and temperature information in real time.
Roctest’s concrete SHM systems are designed to match the full operational life of an LNG facility — typically 40 years. Vibrating wire sensors are specifically selected for this application because their frequency-based measurement principle is inherently stable over time, immune to cable resistance drift, and requires no recalibration access after the concrete has been poured and the sensors are permanently embedded.
