Nanometrics Trillium Horizon 120
Salient Features
The Trillium Horizon 120 is a highly sensitive, very broadband seismometer engineered for both direct burial and vault installations. It delivers precise measurements of ground motion with a bandwidth of 120 seconds to 150 Hz and is designed to operate reliably in a wide range of environmental conditions. Its symmetric triaxial configuration ensures consistent performance across all axes, while its low sensitivity to tilt and temperature reduces the need for maintenance or recalibration after deployment.
Housed in a corrosion-resistant stainless steel case, the Horizon 120 is submersible to depths of up to 10 meters and includes fully automatic mechanical mass centering. This makes it suitable for use in flooded vaults or high-humidity environments. The sensor offers both UVW and XYZ output modes, switchable via a control line or a web interface. With excellent thermal insulation options and a virtual bubble level accessible online, the instrument combines observatory-grade performance with portability and ease of use.
Notable specifications include a nominal sensitivity of 1202.5 V·s/m, dynamic tilt tolerance of ±1.5°, power consumption as low as 490 mW under normal conditions, and no parasitic resonances below 130 Hz.
Installation Tips
The Trillium Horizon 120 supports versatile deployment configurations, whether in a shallow burial or a permanent seismic vault. In direct burial settings, the unit can be installed in an uncased hole approximately 1 meter deep. Proper alignment is aided by visible north-south scribe marks and an optional alignment rod. Leveling is done using either the onboard bubble level or the digital interface connected via a Centaur digitizer.
In vault installations, the instrument should be placed on a concrete pier that is thermally insulated and decoupled from surrounding vault walls to minimize tilt noise. Nanometrics offers a form-fitting insulating cover specifically designed to improve long-period noise performance by up to 40 dB. The seismometer's top-mounted connector simplifies integration in confined spaces, and its shock-resistant design (up to 20g) allows transport without a mass lock mechanism.
Once installed, users should perform initial mass centering, verify level alignment, and configure output signal modes and digitizer sensitivity through the built-in web interface or connected Centaur system. Monitoring and adjustments can be performed remotely, minimizing field interventions.
Manufacturer’s Documents
Further information, installation instructions, and configuration guides can be found through Nanometrics: https://nanometrics.ca/hubfs/Downloads/Data%20Sheets/trillium_horizon_120.pdf?hsLang=en-ca
