Shallow Seismic Or Reflection /
Refraction Seismic Survey Services

Contact Us

What Is A Shallow Seismic Survey?

A shallow seismic survey, also known as a shallow refraction or reflection survey, is a type of seismic survey that is used to study the shallow subsurface, typically to a depth of about 100 meters or less. The goal of a shallow seismic survey is to create high-resolution images of the shallow subsurface to understand the geology and soil properties, as well as to detect potential subsurface hazards such as sinkholes, buried mines, and other potential hazards.

During a shallow seismic survey, a source of energy is introduced into the subsurface, such as a small explosive charge, a hammer, or a vibrator. Seismic waves generated by the energy source travel through the subsurface and are reflected and refracted by subsurface layers. The reflection and refraction of the waves are detected by sensors such as geophones or accelerometers which are placed on the surface, and the data is then used to create an image of the shallow subsurface.

Shallow seismic surveys are non-destructive, efficient and versatile methods that can be used to study the shallow subsurface and provide a variety of information such as soil properties, subsurface structure, and the presence of shallow buried utilities or artifacts, and can also be used in construction and civil engineering applications such as foundation design, slope stability, and landslide hazard mapping. They are also useful in environmental and geotechnical projects such as contaminated site assessment, and mapping of soil liquefaction and lateral spreading hazards.
Contact Us

What Is The Shallow Seismic Survey Used For?

Shallow seismic surveys are used to study the shallow subsurface, typically to a depth of about 100 meters or less. They are used to image the shallow subsurface and provide information on the geology and soil properties of a site. Some specific applications of shallow seismic surveys include:
Shallow seismic surveys can be used to study the shallow subsurface geology and soil properties of a site, providing valuable information for site characterization and design of engineering and construction projects, such as foundation design, slope stability, and landslide hazard mapping.
Shallow seismic surveys can be used to study the shallow subsurface and detect potential subsurface hazards such as contaminated areas, buried waste, and other potential environmental problems. They can also be used to study soil liquefaction, which is an important consideration in the design of structures and other infrastructure in areas that are prone to earthquakes.
Shallow seismic surveys can be used to map and detect the presence of shallow buried utilities such as pipelines, cables, and conduit networks, which can be difficult to locate using other methods.
Shallow seismic surveys can be used to locate and study shallow buried archaeological features, such as buried ruins, artifacts, and other cultural resources.
Shallow seismic surveys can be used to study shallow subsurface properties in urban and civil engineering applications, such as the study of subsurface structure and soil properties for foundation design, slope stability, landslide hazard mapping, and mapping of soil liquefaction and lateral spreading hazards.
Shallow seismic surveys can be used to study the near-surface aquifer properties, such as the depth, thickness, and the continuity of the aquifers, which is useful for groundwater management and sustainable water supply planning.
Shallow seismic surveys can be used in exploration of shallow mineral, geothermal and geotechnical resources, and also in civil construction projects such as highway and railway projects, and in the study of natural hazards such as sinkholes.

Shallow Seismic Is Different From
Cross - Hole Seismic Survey

Shallow seismic and Cross-hole seismic (CHS) are the same methods of subsurface imaging that use seismic waves to create images of the subsurface, but they have key differences in terms of their applications, methods, and results.

Applications

Shallow seismic surveys are typically used for shallow subsurface imaging, such as mapping the subsurface geology and identifying subsurface features in the shallow subsurface such as soil layers, shallow rock formations, and buried utilities.

Methods

In shallow seismic surveys, surface geophones or shallow boreholes record the seismic waves generated by surface sources such as dynamite or a vibroseis truck.

Results

Shallow seismic surveys provide images of the shallow subsurface. Shallow seismic surveys are useful for mapping shallow subsurface geology, but they are less useful for identifying subsurface features at depth.

Overall, both use seismic waves to image the subsurface but are different in applications and results. Most of the time, they are both used in combination with other subsurface imaging methods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the subsurface.