ABOUT
Gaiacode is a science based, forward looking, innovative company designing and building the next generation of seismic instrumentation.
Our sensors are based on completely new design concepts for their mechanical components, and on major improvements to the feedback systems. The results of these innovations are-
- Huge increases in the bandwidths of the instruments
- True recordings of the three degrees of freedom of ground motion
- Repeatable, cost effective manufacturing of high quality seismic instruments
Although Gaiacode is a young company some of its senior personnel have been an integral part of the development of broadband (BB) seismic sensors over four decades. The major milestones of this group are-
- 1987: CMG-3T, the first fieldworthy three component BB feedback instrument worldwide
- 1987: CMG-40T, the first compact three component BB feedback instrument not requiring locking and centering.
- 1989: Design and production of the first broadband Ocean Bottom Seismometer deployed in a submarine borehole worldwide
Gaiacode is continuing this legacy of developing and realizing new concepts of seismic sensors on a commercial scale. Amongst our latest developments are
- New suspension systems for the inertial sensor mass, resulting in a truly rectilinear motion.
- New design concepts for the springs involved.
- Major improvements in the feedback circuitry.
These recent developments allow us to offer three families of next generation seismic feedback sensors:
- The ALPHA instruments are our flagship products: low intrinsic noise, very broadband and highly sensitive three component seismic sensors.
- The THETA instruments are medium motion broadband sensors based on the new suspension design.
- The SIGMA instruments are robust, compact three component accelerometers similarly based on the new suspension design.
Where it all began
History
At GaiaCode, our founder Dr Cansun Güralp, invented the first-ever Feedback Broadband sensor with the following features:
- Vertical feedback broadband sensor module with 89 mm diameter
- First feedback broadband sensor that used triangular spring with fine anchoring wire (patent number: {7909570 (19 March 1979)}, USA patent (4,280,206, July21-1981)
- First feedback broadband sensor that used capacitive differential displacement transducer with electromagnetic force transducer
- First feedback inherently digital broadband feedback seismometer patent: UK: (2,144287A 17 July 1984)
- First borehole sensor with an 89 mm diameter
- First broadband vertical modular sensor with an 80 mm diameter, for a borehole sensor casing of 89 mm diameter
- First broadband feedback seismic sensor which had a frequency response extending from DC to 30 Hz
Since the design of the first feedback broadband sensor with the above technical features a fundamentally novel and innovative Broadband feedback sensor concept has been introduced based on triangular (C spring) used in elastic mode in a zero spring topology.
Our founder
Dr Cansun Güralp
Founded in 2019. GaiaCode marks Dr Güralp’s return to academic and industrial seismometer manufacturing, 40 years after he first revolutionised the industry with the world's first ever broadband miniature feedback instrument.
In 1978 he patented a mechanism that used a triangular leaf spring anchored to a rotational point. In combination with a sensor mass of less than 120 grams and a differential capacitive displacement transducer, this ushered in a new era of seismic instrumentation.
Dr Güralp is once again bringing a novel range of seismometers to the market, making best use of cutting edge material and electro-mechanical design to make further advances on behalf of seismology, science and society.
