Development of a nodal rotational seismometer with a micro-electro-mechanical system sensor and testing of H/V spectral ratios

In response to the increasing demand for large-scale field seismic acquisition, this study developed a low-cost multifunctional nodal rotational seismometer (RBWL) with a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor, considering the functionality, economic feasibility, and the ease of arrangement. The RBWL employs a low-cost and low-power MEMS sensor to acquire seismic signals, involving three-component translational motions (T_x, T_y, T_z) and three-component rotational motions (R_x, R_y, R_z). To reduce the impacts of environmental factors on measurements, the system of the RBWL automatically records real-time information including temperature and attitude while performing compensation correction on the measurement results. For real-time monitoring and data transmission at acquisition nodes, the system establishes a data transmission link integrating 4G, cloud, and client, with the measured maximum data transmission rate up to 100 Mbps. The testing of H/V spectral ratios verifies the system functions and principal performance parameters of the RBWL and its effectiveness in engineering physical exploration.