Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)

Silixa iDAS Setup Manual for Reoccupying/Duplicating Experiment

General Information

• Experiment Name: _______________________________________
• Local Date: ____/___/202
• Local Time: ___________________________________________
• Personnel: ____________________________________________
• Site Condition Notes:
  • [Space for detailed notes about the site condition, any upkeep performed, and changes made since the last visit.]

Setup Procedure

1. Open iDAS Box

   • Serial Number: _________________
   • IP Address: ____________________

2. Check Laser Lock

   • Ensure the lever on the LASER/RIGHT side of the iDAS is in the locked position (LEVER UP).

3. Placement of iDAS

   • Position the iDAS on a stable surface.
   • Ensure clear air flow around the fan vents.

4. UPS Setup (If applicable)

   • Connect the UPS to a power source.
   • Plug the NAS into the UPS using the special cable with a rectangular connector.
   • Connect the monitor to the UPS.

5. Peripheral Connections

   • Connect a computer monitor, mouse, and keyboard to the iDAS.

6. GPS Antenna Connection

   • Connect the GPS antenna to the left-side socket on the front of the iDAS using a special adapter.

7. Fibre Optic Connection

   • Clean both the fibre optic cable and the socket with a 1-click cleaner before connection.
   • Use the guide/tip for cleaning the fibre and clean the socket without it.

8. Powering the iDAS

   • Connect the iDAS to a power socket or UPS.
   • Note: The iDAS turns on automatically when connected to power. Use the power button at the bottom left if it does not.

9. Network Drive Mapping

   • Open File Explorer and select 'This PC' from the left pane.
   • On the File Explorer ribbon, select 'More' > 'Map network drive'.
   • Choose a drive letter from the 'Drive' list.

10. Open iDAS Software

    • Use the link/shortcut on the Desktop.

11. GPS Satellite Confirmation

    • Check for a green light in the top row of the software interface indicating GPS satellite detection.

12. Lever/Interlock Adjustment

    • Lower the lever/interlock (as mentioned in step 2) before starting data acquisition.

13. Configuration File Duplication

    • Use 'current.cfg' for duplicating previous setup.
    • The file is located at C:/Silixa/Data/current.cfg.
    • Copy this file to the desktop and save it with a new filename.

14. iDAS Configuration Settings

    • Navigate to the 'Configuration' tab and click 'iDAS configuration'.
    • Check all values under 'system'.
    • Under 'application', enable error messages.
    • In 'saving', select 'acoustic saving', choose 'tdms', and set the file save location and identifier.
    • Leave default parameters in 'measure'.

15. Mode Selection

    • Toggle between Acoustic mode, Waterfall mode, and OTDR mode to check data recording.

16. Photograph OTDR Mode

    • Document the OTDR mode settings with a photograph.

17. Photograph Waterfall Mode

    • Similarly, take a picture of the Waterfall mode settings.

18. Configuration File Saving

    • Save the configuration file in .cfg format in a separate location without overwriting the existing one.

19. Software Check

    • Ensure QFinder, Teamviewer, and Microsoft Remote Desktop are installed.

20. Remote Access Setup

    • Open Teamviewer or Microsoft Remote Desktop.
    • For Teamviewer, photograph the ID and password and ensure it remains open.
    • For Microsoft Remote Desktop, record the IP address and test remote access with a separate laptop.

21. Final Mode Setting

    • Switch to OTDR mode for ongoing operation (avoids excessive memory usage of Waterfall mode).

Important Reminders

• Always ensure that the iDAS is connected to a suitably earthed power socket or UPS for safety.
• Regularly check the condition of all cables and connectors.
• Before leaving the setup, confirm that data saving is active if required.
• Keep a log of all actions taken during the setup for future reference and troubleshooting.