Terrestrial Seismic Methods

Terrestrial seismic methods are used primarily to characterize subsurface stratigraphy, determine bedrock depth and rock rippability, evaluate soil improvement effectiveness, and identify geological hazards such as voids or faults. These techniques are categorized into active methods (Seismic Reflection, Seismic Refraction, FWI, and MASW), which use controlled energy sources such as sledgehammers or weight drops to generate seismic waves, and passive methods (pVs and HVSR), which utilize ambient (cultural or natural) noise as a signal source.  While passive methods offer rapid deployment and perform well in noisy urban environments, active methods typically provide higher resolution and more detailed 2D or 3D subsurface imaging. Data processing involves transforming recorded signals into velocity models or seismic images and often requires correlation with borehole data to ensure correct interpretation of the geophysical data for engineering and site characterization applications.