Apparatus for detecting and recording accelerations experienced by a structure, and a method of operating the apparatus

An apparatus for detecting and recording accelerations experienced by a building, the apparatus comprising a housing, a processor provided within the housing, an accelerometer connected to an interior of the housing an in communication with the processor, and non-volatile computer memory device connection means connected to the processor, the connection means adapted for releasable connection to at least one non-volatile computer memory device, wherein, in use:

• i. the processor, accelerometer and computer memory device initially operate in a reduced power state;
• ii. the accelerometer switches to a fully operational state and stores accelerometer data in a buffer in response to detecting an acceleration experienced by the building having a magnitude which is greater than a first preselected threshold magnitude;
• iii. the processor and computer memory device switch to a fully operational state in response to the accelerometer detecting an acceleration having a magnitude which is greater than a first preselected threshold magnitude;
• iv. the processor stores the accelerometer data from the buffer in a computer memory device which is coupled to the connection means;
• v. the processor and computer memory device switch to a reduced power state until the accelerometer signals that further data is available, and stores any further accelerometer data in the buffer;
• and
• vi. the apparatus repeats steps iii) to v) until a predetermined time has elapsed since the accelerometer last detected an acceleration having a magnitude which is greater than a second preselected threshold magnitude.