Geophone networks and environmental studies: Application to landslides

Abstract

Seismic surveys are a non-invasive method for exploring the geological structure of the Earth. Their purpose is to identify the composition of the subsoil. This information can be used to indicate the presence of potential mineral deposits, geotechnical studies, underground tomography, earthquake prediction and various other applications. A survey is performed by sending seismic waves deep into the subsurface and recording the image of different rock formations based on the reflection and refraction of the waves returning to the surface. The acquisition of seismic data requires specialist equipment including vibration trucks and geophones, i.e. special equipment for the registration of waves, which work in a similar way as a microphone does. Following processing and interpretation, the acquired data provide an insight into the geological structure of the Earth, which is a basis for drafting geological maps and sections. Thanks to seismic surveys via geophone networks, which are preceded by the analysis of historical geological data, it is possible to map the underground without using the costly drilling methods. © 2015 IEEE.