Vibration Monitoring Data from a Bat Hibernaculum at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, March 2016
Dates
Publication Date
2018-10-22
Start Date
2016-03-15
End Date
2016-03-16
Citation
Adams, R.F., Morrow, W.S., and Koebel, C.M., 2018, Vibration monitoring data from a bat hibernaculum at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, March 2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P94LHZHR.
Summary
The activities associated with the construction of a new walkway within Mammoth Cave caused vibrations to be felt in the cave, which is home to an endangered Indiana bat roost. These data were collected at the request of the National Park Service to monitor the vibration levels near a bat roost within Mammoth Cave National Park to determine if construction-induced vibration might be inducing the observed activity of the bats. Seven geophones and two accelerometers were placed in the passage to the bat roost to monitor the distribution of ground velocity and acceleration. The vibration signature of individual construction equipment (jackhammer, place compactor, and hammer drill), human activities during a simulated bat survey, and ambient [...]
Summary
The activities associated with the construction of a new walkway within Mammoth Cave caused vibrations to be felt in the cave, which is home to an endangered Indiana bat roost. These data were collected at the request of the National Park Service to monitor the vibration levels near a bat roost within Mammoth Cave National Park to determine if construction-induced vibration might be inducing the observed activity of the bats. Seven geophones and two accelerometers were placed in the passage to the bat roost to monitor the distribution of ground velocity and acceleration. The vibration signature of individual construction equipment (jackhammer, place compactor, and hammer drill), human activities during a simulated bat survey, and ambient levels were recorded for approximately 10 seconds during each trigging of the source and each source was recorded 5-11 times. This data release is comprised of point measurements of maximum ground velocity and acceleration values.
Adams, R.F., Morrow, W.S., and Koebel, C.M., 2018, Vibration monitoring results near a bat hibernaculum at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, March 2016: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5129, 16 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185129.
The purpose of this study was to understand the possible relation of vibrations to the operation of specific construction, to ambient manual construction, and to footfall sources.
Preview Image
Geophone setup inside Mammoth Cave (Credit: C Koebel, USGS)