Overview
ISO 18674-1:2015 - Geotechnical investigation and testing - Geotechnical monitoring by field instrumentation - Part 1: General rules - defines the general rules and framework for geotechnical monitoring using field instrumentation. The standard covers monitoring of the ground, structures interacting with the ground, geotechnical fills and works, and applies to measurements carried out during site investigations, Observational Design procedures, and before, during and after construction for stability, consolidation and safety assessments.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Establishes requirements for planning, execution and reporting of geotechnical monitoring projects aimed at answering specific geotechnical questions (e.g., stability, proof of new equilibrium, performance verification).
- Terms and symbols: Defines key concepts such as geotechnical key parameter, monitoring plan, monitoring system, zero/initial/reference/ baseline measurements and measurement types (point vs. line).
- Monitoring project lifecycle: Covers the whole project from monitoring concept and plan, procurement and installation of instruments, commissioning, to data acquisition, processing, verification and reporting (installation and monitoring reports).
- Monitoring system requirements: Emphasizes robustness, redundancy, stability of sensor signals, function checks and calibration, plus requirements for data transmission, acquisition and auxiliary units.
- Measurement practice: Guidance on locating measuring points (surface, interface or within media), geodetic measurements and carrying out measurements in boreholes (see Annex B) and other field contexts.
- Safety and quality: Addresses safety requirements, minimum instrument data sheet content, and verification/acceptance (commissioning) criteria.
- Normative references: Links to related standards used in application (e.g., ISO 14688-1, ISO 14689-1, ISO 22475-1, ISO/IEC Guide 99, IEC 60529) and alignment with EN 1997 series for observational methods.
Practical applications and users
ISO 18674-1 is intended for professionals involved in geotechnical monitoring, including:
- Geotechnical and civil engineers planning and executing monitoring programmes
- Site investigation specialists and consultants using field instrumentation
- Instrumentation manufacturers and suppliers producing instrument data sheets and system components
- Contractors and asset owners responsible for construction-phase and asset safety monitoring
- Regulators and forensic engineers requiring perpetuation of evidence and proof of safety or serviceability
Typical applications include monitoring unstable slopes, consolidation of foundations, pore pressure and earth pressure changes, verification of tunnelling or excavation impacts, and observational design feedback during construction.
Related standards
- ISO 18674 series (other parts planned/under development: extensometers, inclinometers, piezometers, pressure cells, strain gauges, load cells, geodetic and vibration monitoring)
- EN 1997 (Eurocode 7) - Observational method and geotechnical design linkage
- Normative references listed in ISO 18674-1 for soil/rock identification, sampling and metrology
Keywords: ISO 18674-1:2015, geotechnical monitoring, field instrumentation, monitoring plan, geotechnical key parameter, observational design, baseline measurements, instrument data sheet.