MASW / Shallow Seismics

MASW

MASW is a seismic exploration technique which is extremely beneficial for shallow investigation. The technique enables the measurement of the grounds stiffness though incorporating values of density for local bedrock and overburden sediments.

A seismic wave is transmitted to the ground, usually by a single impact from a sledgehammer on a metal plate, a purpose-built transmitter, or in some cases through controlled explosions. An array of geophones is lined out from the source to measure the returning seismic signals. Each set of signals is then analysed to provide a 1D depth profile of shear wave velocity which can be combined to produce a depth cross-section revealing the shear wave velocity structure of the ground.

Typical applications of MASW include bedrock profiling, calculating elastic moduli and soil properties, locating areas of loose soil, mapping voids, and geological mapping.