Project News

Maintenance of seismic intensity meter (Samtse Dzongkhag)

From June 16th to 26th, the Department of Geology and Mines (DGM) carried out maintenance work and site patrol on the seismic intensity meters in 14 gewogs of Samtse Dzongkhag.

In southern Bhutan, there are many lightning strikes during the rainy season (monsoon). When they visited there (14 Gewog offices), most of the ethernet ports and adapters had been damaged due to thunder and lightning. So they made sure replace them with the new ones and installed the switch and surge protector.

DGM also visited the source monitoring station in Samtse Dzongkhag. Since DGM was not able to visit the station under Red Zone designated area due to COVID-19 pandemic for the last two years, its hut and solar panel were totally covered in thick bushes and grass. They cleaned and cleared all these, then they improve communication system, installed a new cabin to protect equipment and set a new sensor (long period). The station got initial status and sunlight over the solar panel.

Through these visits to the stations, DGM also taught Gewog officials again how to prepare for lightning strikes.

As lightning strike countermeasures are a major issue in southern area, DGM will continue to conduct maintenance works in other Dzongkhags.

Replacing works of parts of seismic intensity meter at Ugyent Gewog office (left)
Installing surge protector at Tendu Gewog office (right),
Photo courtesy of DGM