Multisource multichannel analysis of surface waves for near-surface characterization in urban areas

Abstract

The urbanization over the world has great demand for the shallow subsurface space. Traditional geophysical methods face challenges on near-surface imaging for the development and utilization of underground space in urban areas. High-frequency surface wave methods provide alternatives for near-surface characterization. Urban traffic and traditional artificial seismic sources provide different kinds of sources for surface waves. A linear array along roads is efficient for data acquisition in urban environment. By multichannel analysis of multisource (active and passive) data, Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves in different frequency bands are inverted for multi-scale shear (S)-wave velocity structures. The combined use of multisource surface waves can provide a better way to characterize subsurface structures in urban areas. Field data examples demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of using multisource multichannel analysis of surface waves for near-surface characterization in urban areas.