BUANTERRA 1 INC.
THE INNOVATORS IN BROAD-BAND SEISMIC INSTRUMENTATION
Quanterra, Inc., designs and manufactures ohserl'Gtory-quality hroad-hand seismic instrumentation.
QUANTERRA INNOVAT ONS:
STRATEGY: VBB + 24 BITS
1984: codevelopment of the first high-dynamic-range
(> 140 dB) seismic sensor capable of providing all seismic
signals in a single output. The term we coined to describe the
technique, Very Broad Band, or VBB, has entered common
usage. (Wielandt & Steim, A digital very-broad-band seismograph, Anna/es Geophysicae, 1986).
A digital VBB system encodes linearly a single component of
ground motion over the broadest possible frequency range in
a single digital data stream. This requires:
• A sensor that can resolve minimum seismic noise over
the desired band, having an optimal frequency response that
minimizes the seismic dynamic range vs. frequency at the
input to the digitizer. The sensor must also have at least 140
dB dynamic range at the periods of peak seismic dynamic
range, 10-25 seconds for regional events, and must not be
saturated by local high-frequency (> 1 Hz) signals. A response flat to velocity from :5:0.0 I Hz to c: l O Hz meets these
requirements.
• A digitizer with a dynamic range c:140 dB and a
constant resolution as a function of amplitude in order not to
distort the wideband signal from the seismometer.
1985: development of the first high-dynamic-range digital VBB seismic station (HRV) using high-resolution 24-bit
digitizers and advanced real-time signal processing. This
system intluenced heavily the design goals ofIRIS (lncorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) and other major
international programs for a new generation of global instrumentation. (Steim & Wielandt, The very-broad-band seismograph; Part 2: station processor, (abstract), EOS, 1985).
1986: the first system with high-speed open dialup access by telephone to global observatory-quality VBB data (HRV). Researchers now routinely
access Quanterra dial-up systems on several continents. Over 200 researchers obtained timely data
from Quanterra systems for the Loma Prieta event of
1989. (Steim, Dial-A-Broad-Band Seismogram,
EOS, 1987)
1987: thefirstopen VBB station (CalTech's PAS)
with integrated strong-motion recording. Total acceleration dynamic range >220 dB, from 10- 11 g at 300
seconds period to 1 g at 25 Hz.
1988: development, with Martin Marietta for the
IRIS/USGS GSN, of the first smart packetized communications link connecting a remote data acquisition
computer to a recording site. The protocol allows the
transmission priority of each type of data to be specif
The link can be broken for hours or days without loss of data.
1990: introduction of the Q680 family, the first compact,
low-power, 6-channel 24-bit systems with 80-Hz sampling
and the remote data access capability of Quanterra's earlier
systems. The Q680, selected for the USGS National Seismic
Network, is an ideal companion to new wide-bandwidth
sensors, such as the G. Streckeisen STS-2. lt achieves a new
standard in economy, performance, and connectivity, delivering global observatory capability for about the same price
as a simple field recorder.
THE FUTURE:
Quanterra will continue innovation with
new products that combine the highest standards of broadband instrumentation in compact low-power systems with
open, rapid data access.
Quanterra, lnc. -
325 Ayer Rd. -
The Q680V System:
6-channel, 24-bit, 80 Hz.
A system that combines these features allows the recording of
only a single digital data stream having the maximum desired
bandwidth. Broad-band or short-period data from regional
events and teleseismic mantle waves may be recovered
simultaneously from one such high-resolution digital VBB
data stream.
VBB technology is suited to teleseismic, regional, and nearfield recording. Quanterra-supplied technology is now in
global operation in every leading program, including
MEDNET(ltaly), IRIS/USGS GSN, TERRAscope (CaITech),
GEOSCOPE (France), POSEIDON (Japan), IRIS/IDA
(UCSD), German Regional Array, and the USGS National
Seismic Network.
Harvard, MA, 01451, USA -
Tel: 508-772-477 4 -
FAX: 508-772-4645
GUANTERRA
PRODUCTS
Q680.
The Q680 family combines high-resolution
Quanterra digitizer technology (US Patent 4866442) and
advanced software with industry-standard computer hardware. lt is available in a variety of configurations. For
example, the basic Q680N version for the USGS US National
Seismic Network transmits real-time data through a satellite
upl ink. The separated Q380/UX version is coupled to a Unixbased processor through a packetized link in the German
Regional Array to access data via an X.25 network connection. The integratedQ680/V version incorporates local massstorage and telephone dial-up in a single unit.
SHEAR SOFTWARE.
The SHEAR (System for
High-resolution EArthquake Recording) data acquisition
software package adds Quanterra's advanced VBB processing and data access to a Q680 system. The SHEAR package
may operate in a diskless remote station or with local mass
storage.
STRONG
MOTION
PRINCIPAL FEATURES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3 or 6 channels - 24-bit digital data - 80, 40, 20,
10, and 1-Hz sampling rate. 100 Hz optionally
available. 220 dB total dynamic range when used
with a 3-component broad-band seismometer and
3-component strong-motion accelerometer. The two
3-channel digitizer channel groups are optically
isolated to reduce grounding problems associated
with multiple high-resolution sensors.
HIGH-SPEED
DIAL-UP
_____/
SATELLIT
QUANTERRA
(VBB(--
/
OTHER
User-configurable continuous and event recording.
Rugged and environmentally protected- shockmounted sealed enclosure. Transient protection
on every line.
-----------
6-CH 24-BIT
80HZ
-----
------\
DISK, TAPE,
WORM
/
\
UPLINK
REMOTE
___
R...,ECORDER
ANALOG
OUTPUT
TCP/IP
LAN
QUANTERRA SYSTEMS: PERFORMANCE, ECONOMY,
CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS -- VME, SCSI, ETHERNET
Low power: operates on 24V DC power with
built-in low-voltage shutdown.
Industry-standard IEEE-! 014 specification
YME/68030 or 68000 computer architecture.
Supported by Quanterra 's SHEAR software package
including dial-up data access.
Internationally-accepted data fonnats.
May use dedicated land-line or radio communications circuits or dial-up telephone lines.
Continuous or request-based, error-controlled digital
telemetry with temporary storage in a solid-state
memory or disk. Memory size of 4 Mb is sufficient to
store three hours of continuous compressed 3-channel
data at 80-Hz sampling. Memory may be expanded to
256 Mb with 68030 or 8 Mb with 68000.
An internal 150-Mb cartridge or 1.3-Gb digital DAT
tape subsystem provides self-contained storage of
continuous 3-channel 80-Hz data for up to 50 days.
A 200-Mb, low-power, 3.5-inch hard disk for online request-based access to recorded data. 600 Mb
available.
Ethernet support (68030) including FTP, TELNET,
and NFS.
•
CONTINUOUS RECORDING DATA RETRIEVAL ON REQUEST
The system records into circular buffers containing both
continuous data and only events; the event-only buffer provides a longer residence time for data access. Circular data
buffer size is limited only by available mass-storage, and may
be expanded or configured by the user independently for each
recorded data stream. A diskless system may use batterybacked RAM memory for data storage.
Data in the circular continuous and event data buffers may be
extracted beginning at an operator-defined starting time,
displayed on a graphics terminal or hard-copy platter, and
transmitted for further analysis to a hast workstation (SUN,
PC, ... ) with serial asynchronous communications capability
or FTP via Ethernet. Operator requests for data are fonnulated by specifying the channel, starting time, and length of
time window. A typical system with a 209 Mb disk would
have available for on-line access 8-10 days of continuous
broad-band data, several months of VLP data, and 6-12
months of events.
•
DATA
COMPRESSION
The VBB system stores the
digital data in compressed
form for efficient use of
the on-line data buffer.
The compression loses no
signal resolution and requires typically only one 8-bit byte per sample of seismic
data. Continuous recording of three channels of
seismic data at 20 Hz generates about 6 Mb of
compressed data per day. The compression technique developed for the VBB system has been acccepted by the United
States Air Force forits Global Telemetered Seismic Network,
by the US Geological Survey, IRIS, and the Federation of
Digital Seismic Networks.
An improved version of the compression technique will be
available in 1991, requiring storage of 3-5 Mb/day for
20-Hz sampled data, or 12-16 Mb/day for continuous
80-Hz 3-channel data.
The CCU3/VBB.
Control, power, 24-bit
digitizers for STS- l .
•
Remote control, including sensor recentering, may be performed on a local or remote tenninal. The multi-process
operating system allows a remote or local user to 'log in' to
perform any of the menu-driven commands.
•
•
REMOTE CONTROL
TELEPHONE DIAL-UP DATA ACCESS
STANDARD DATA FORMAT
The Q380/Q680 systems with SHEAR software package
write records for tape recording or telephone access in the
Federation of Digital Seismic Networks 'SEED' fonnat.
Anotherfonnat is compatible directly with the SAC (Seismic
Analysis Code) seismic data graphic editor developed by
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), which
runs on SUN Unix workstations.
Quanterra's dial-up system provides simple user access to
data on request.
Buffered data may be recalled and the event detection log
may be examined over astandard dial-up telephone line using
an AT-command setmodem. Communications is in aconversational language. Kermit or a communications pro gram with
'capture' mode is all that is required to receive data.
One command specifying the desired starting and ending times allows transfer (by Ke1mit) of SEED-format
data records for an entire day. Either continuouslyrecorded or event-recorded data may be transmitted in this way.
HIGHEST RESOLUTION - LOWEST DISTORTION
-20
An IRIS-developed program called 'GOPHER'
allows automatic, unattended data retrieval from
multiple Quanterra dial-up systems by telephone from a central facility.
0 dB ~ 5 930000E+06 counts RMS
TONAL PEAK
- - +13 dBV 1 02 Hz
> - - - - ---+-- - - - - + - - - - - t
USGS TESTOF
NATIONAL NETWORK SP 900602
SINGLE TONE 1 02 HZ 13 dBV
0dBAEF 40VPP(2Jd8V)
-40
> - - - ------1!--- - - - + - - - - - t
-60
1--- - ----tt------+-----t
FILE: 900602 900505 TONE
Quanterra's dial-up data access and data buffering software allows data tobe recorded on-site
and retrieved locally in the event of telemetry
failure to a remote recording site. This redundancy is an important feature where data availability is critical.
PEAK HAAMON!C DiSTORTION
dB
.,
".-E
a.
II
111
- tl.<100
137d8
-so 1 - - -- - - + + - -- - - - + - - - - - , ~ -- - -
-ioo
E
<(
~
120
SECOND
~
-.:;
0:
THIRD
/
-140
1 000
2000
20 00 sps - 4 27 mmules ol data - b,n 3 906 mHz
3000
cos1ne wmdow
Frequency (Hz)
'000
5000
Harmonie Distortion Test of
Quanterra 80-Hz Digitizer.
GUANTERRA
•
INTEGRATED AND
SEPARATED VERSIONS
The integrated system combines digitizing, processing. onsite recording, and dial -up data access in a single package by
adding the SHEAR software and hard disk or RAM to a basic
Q380/Q680 system.
The separated version allows the seismometer/digitizer site
tobe physically separated from the recording site through an
error-controlled data link.
CAL 1ECH'S QUAN1ERRA S\S1EM (PAS) · >ERnCAL SCALE MICRONS SEC
•
ADVANCED EVENT DETECTION
Seismic event detection uses the algorithm developed for the
Seismic Research Observatory stations of the Global Digital
Seismograph Network operated by the US Geological Survey. Time of onset, S/N ratio of onset, signal period, direction
of the first break, peak signal amplitude, and amplitude of the
background before detection are reported. Detection results
are reported in near real time on a local or remote terminal,
and are recorded in a ci rcular list of recent detections that may
be examined by the operator or over a dial-up
modern link. The USGS Open-File report
83-785 describes the detection algorithm.
•
§ F _,.
0
(/)
Cl:
;
[. ·=,,.
tü
- =.. ~
~
(.)
E
;:;
j
.
1
1., i/1 ,
wvlif: ~ .,1 1l,.(
\ll1 11 •
1
- - -- - - - --
TIME (1989/10/18 00:04:30 UTC)
VBB + 24 BITS = ON-SCALE HIGH-RESOLUTION NEAR-FIELD, REGIONAL,
AND TELESEISMIC RECORDINGS. DIAL-UP = IMMEDIATE DATA ACCESS.
•
SMART ERROR-CONTROLLED SEPARATED
PROCESSOR LINK
CRC-error-correcting duplex communications link between
the remote Q380/Q680 and a receiving site handles over a
serial asynchronous line compressed mixed continuous and
event data having user-definable tranmission priorities. The
protocol provides virtually 100% error-free transmission
between the remote digitizer and recording processor.
User-defined transmission priority of different
data types (such as continuous long-period or
event-detected broad-band) allows the link tobe
used to recover the type of information most
desired. Data are buffered in the Q380/Q680
subsystem until transmission is possible, or
until the buffer space is exhausted, when previously buffered data are overwritten in reverse priority order.
The error-controlled link and the request-driven dial-up data
access protocol provide two independent data access
methods from a remote site.
The G. Streckeisen
STS-2 portable VBB
seismometer.
INTERNAL TIME BASE
Timing is provided by a TCXO time base.
The offset between user-supplied Universal Time (UTC) and the time provided by
the Q380/Q680 internal clock is measured
and recorded, providing a history oftiming
system performance. This time offset is
automatically removed by the system from
the time in each data block. No user clock
corrections are required. The · slow-code'
Output of a Kinemetrics time receiver, such
as the OM-DC, or other source of reference pulses that occur at one-minute intervals, may be directly connected to the
VBB system to provide a time reference.
GUANTERRA
PRODUCTS
Q680.
The Q680 family combines high-resolution
Quanterra digitizer technology (US Patent 4866442) and
advanced software with industry-standard computer hardware. lt is available in a variety of configurations. For
example. the basic Q680N version forthe USGS US National
Seismic Network transmits real-time data through a satellite
uplink. TheseparatedQ380/UX version is coupled toa Unixbased processor through a packetized link in the German
Regional Array to access data via an X.25 network connection. The integratedQ680/V version incorporates local massstorage and telephone dial-up in a single unit.
SHEAR SOFTWARE.
The SHEAR (System for
High-resolution EArthquake Recording) data acquisition
software package adds Quanterra's advanced VBB processing and data access to a Q680 system. The SHEAR package
may operate in a diskless remote station or with local mass
storage.
STRONG
MOTION
HIGH-SPEED
DIAL-UP
PRINCIPAL FEATURES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
/
------QUANTERRA
3 or 6 channels - 24-bit digital data - 80, 40, 20,
10. and 1-Hz sampling rate. 100 Hz optionally
available. 220 dB total dynamic range when used
with a 3-component broad-band seismometer and
3-component strong-motion accelerometer. The two
3-channel digitizer channel groups are optically
isolated to reduce grounding problems associated
with multiple high-resolution sensors.
(VBB(--
I
OTHER
User-configurable continuous and event recording.
Rugged and environmentally protected- shockmounted sealed enclosure. Transient protection
on every line.
!
6-CH 24-BIT
80HZ
DISK, TAPE,
WORM
/
...._________.
- ---
--------
------- ANALOG
OUTPUT
SATELLIT
UPLINK
REMOTE
\
\
Q52K-l:
established
20-Hz 24-bit
standard.
•
USER-DEFINED DIGITAL-FILTERS
....,..........TCP/IP
LAN
QUANTERRA SYSTEMS: PERFORMANCE, ECONOMV,
CONNECTIVITV STANDARDS -- VME, SCSI, ETHERNET
Retrieved data may be digitally filtered with filter
characteristics that are user-defined. Typical standard
filters include Butterworth multipole high-. low-, and bandpass.
•
The Quanterra Q380 and Q680 intelligent high-resolution
digitizer subsystems use low-power CMOS industry-standard IEEE-1014 YMEbus technology.
lndustry-standard IEEE-1014 specification
VME/68030 or 68000 computer architecture.
•
Supported by Quanterra's SHEAR software package
including dial-up data access.
•
Internationally-accepted data formats.
The system records into circular buffers containing both
continuous data and only events; the event-only buffer provides a longer residence time for data access. Circular data
buffer size is limited only by available mass-storage, and may
be expanded or configured by the user independently for each
recorded data stream. A diskless system may use batterybacked RAM memory for data storage.
Continuous or request-based, error-controlled digital
telemetry with temporary storage in a solid-state
memory or disk. Memory size of 4 Mb is sufficient to
store three hours of continuous compressed 3-channel
data at 80-Hz sampling. Memory may be expanded to
256 Mb with 68030 or 8 Mb with 68000.
An internal 150-Mb cartridge or 1.3-Gb digital DAT
tape subsystem provides self-contained storage of
continuous 3-channel 80-Hz data for up to 50 days.
A 200-Mb. low-power, 3.5-inch hard disk for online request-based access to recorded data. 600 Mb
available.
Ethernet support (68030) including FTP. TELNET,
and NFS.
CONTINUOUS RECORDING DATA RETRIEVAL ON REQUEST
Data in the circular continuous and event data buffers may be
extracted beginning at an operator-defined starting time,
displayed on a graphics terminal or hard-copy plotter, and
transmitted for further analysis to a host workstation (SUN,
PC, ... ) with serial asynchronous communications capability
or FTP via Ethernet. Operator requests for data are forrnulated by specifying the channel, starting time, and length of
time window. A typical system with a 209 Mb disk would
have available for on-line access 8-10 days of continuous
broad-band data, several months of VLP data, and 6-12
months of events.
Output forrnat is 32-bit signed integer. Typical actual noise
tloor is -141 dBRMS overthe full 40-Hz Nyquist bandwidth.
At constant temperature, dynamic range below 1 Hz exceeds
24 bits. Measured performance is specified. not theoretical oi
numerical dynamic range. Digital filtering within the Q680
derives 32-bit data streams at reduced sample rates of 40, 20,
10, and 1 Hz. The compact ! -Hz data have full signal power
to 0.35 Hz. Future enhancements are planned to take advantage of the 32-bit intemal formal.
FLEXIBLE LOW-POWER DESIGN
Low power: operates on 24V DC power with
built-in low-voltage shutdown.
May use dedicated land-line or radio communications circuits or dial-up telephone lines.
bandwidth achieved with a sampling rate> 120 Hz in a
traditional sampled system having a signal bandwidth
equal to f Ni4ui,,/2.
RECORDER
3 or 6 CHANNELS · 24+ BITS · 80 HZ
The digitizer subsytem is available in several configurations,
depending on sample rate and number of channels. Standard
models include the Q380 (3 channels 80 Hz) and Q680
(6 channels 80 Hz). Sampling at 100 Hz is available. The
Quantagratordigitizer (US Patent 4866442) used in the Q680
series products is a second-generation device, based
on the Q52K- l, released in 1987.
Observatory-Ouality Performance. This very-long-period recording from the Ouanterra VBB system at Harvard University
contains a striking example of love-wave propagation. Vertical
scale is microns/sec.
27
•
.
Rt
RJ
R2
WIDE SIGNAL BANDWIDTH
The Q680 operates at an an initial sampling frequency of 5120 Hz and employs internal analog
signal enhancement and digital signal processing
and decimation to provide a basic output sampling
frequency of80 Hz. Digital anti-alias filters in the
Q680 give a linear phase characteristic having
small amplitude deviation within the -6 dB passband of 0-32 Hz. The 32-Hz signal bandwidth
achieved with 80-Hz sampling is equivalent to the
3 hour
,,
,.
"
z
STS-1 & STS-2 SEISMOMETERS
Quanterra is the exclusive representative in North
America for the world-standard STS-1 and the
STS-2 VBB seismometers manufactured by G.
Streckeisen, AG. Our partnership allows us to provide integrated complete systems and to cooperate in
new product development.
CCU3 & Q52K-1
We also offer 3-channel 20-Hz 24-bit systems using
the CCU3NBB integrated with the STS-1. The
CCU3NBB is a versatile control system for the
STS-1 that provides power, manual and computerdri ven remote control and status monitoring for three
STS-1 seismometers. The CCU3NBB may also
contain three Q52K-1 24-bit 20-Hz digitizers and
the AGSX3 I 6-channel 16-bit digitizer.
The Q52K- I is the established standard in observatory high-resolution digitizers, with more units in
continuous operation worldwide than any other.
CUSTOM CAPABILITIES
Special configurations and interfaces, test systems
with a )arge number of channels, telemetry, and
packaging.
QUANTERRA'S INTEGRATED VBB AND STRONG-MOTION
RECORDING: 220 DB DYNAMIC RANGE
t •«·---..
~"~
~~III l l l lll l l l lil 1 1 1 1 1
PASADENA. CA (TIME 88/02111 15:25:50 UTC)
The performonce ond verso1ility of Quonlerro systems is illustroted in
this exomple from ColTech's PAS stolion in Posodeno, CA. The top
troce shows the VBB 20-Hz 24-bit recording of the event to be oboul
40% of fu ll scole of the STS-1 seismometer ond 24-bit digitizer, or 5
mm/sec P-P velocity. The second troce shows lhe dato mognified
1001000 limes to illustrote the system dynomic ronge . The some signol
was simultoneously recorde-d on lhe strong motion chonnels with 100Hz sompling . The peok occelerollon is obout 1.4% g . In terms oF
occeleration , o Quonterro system with integroted VBB and strongrnolion recording has 220 dB dyn<:1rnic ronge. These dalo were
retrieved directly from PAS using Quonterro's d!ol-up dato retrfevol
systern . Vertica l scole digital counts.
Quanterra is privately held, incorporated in Massachusetts, USA, in 1987. We are growing rapidly and have a solid
technical and financial base to continue as the innovator during the 90's. The recent selection by the USGS as the sole
supplier of advanced station processors for the US National Seismic Network is evidence of our commitment to value
and technological leadership. As exclusive representatives forG. Streckeisen, AG, in North America, we are prepared
to fill your requirements for integrated advanced systems.
The information in this document has been reviewed and is believed tobe reliable. Quanterrn. lnc. reserves the right to make changes at any time
and without notice to improve the reliability and function ofthe products described herein. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced. slored
in a retrieval system. or transmitted. in any form or by any means. electronic. mechanical. photocopying. recording. or otherwise. without the prior
written permission or Quanterra. lnc.
Copyright © 1990. Quanterra. lnc. All rights reserved. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Quanterra, lnc. - 325 Ayer Rd. - Harvard, MA, 01451, USA
Tel: 508-772-4774 - FAX: 508-772-4645