About the Course
Since its first introduction in the late 1990s, the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method has been utilized by an increasing number of practitioners for a growing array of geotechnical projects, and further researched by many investigators worldwide. The MASW method provides one of the most critically important geotechnical parameters—stiffness of ground materials. It provides this information in terms of seismic shear-wave velocity (Vs) distribution in both vertical and horizontal directions. From an elastic theory viewpoint, shear-wave velocity (Vs) is the most powerful indicator of a material's stiffness.
This course covers the basics of seismic surface waves, data acquisition, and data processing in very layman’s terms. The course will cover the fundamentals in such a way that participants can, upon its completion, engage in common applications such as seismic site characterization (Vs-30m) and mapping soil/bedrock shear-wave velocity (Vs) cross sections. It will also briefly demonstrate actual data acquisition in the field by using a typical set of equipment (if this option is selected). It will demonstrate how to process surface-wave data, and each participant will be guided step-by-step in processing actual field data sets, by using a trial version of proprietary software distributed and installed on a laptop computer. It will also cover advanced techniques and recent developments to ensure successful handling of more challenging projects.
The course includes time for project consultation and open discussion so that each participant can bring his or her own topics, data sets, and potential projects to openly consult during the class.
Primary Objectives of the course:
- to grasp basic concepts of seismic surface waves
- to understand the overall field procedure for optimal data acquisition
- to provide first-hand experience in processing field data sets to generate two-dimensional (2-D) shear-wave velocity (V) cross sections as well as 1-D profiles
- to recognize typical applications of MASW
- to be fully flexible in data acquisition and processing so that one can handle challenging situations more successfully
Meet the Instructor
Dr. Choon Park, Founder & Principal Geophysicist, Park Seismic LLC
Dr. Choon Park is lead author of the MASW technique, published in GEOPHYSICS (1999) while he was at the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) (1988-2006). Since then, Dr. Park has published more than one hundred papers on MASW and related topics. He is currently founder and principal geophysicist at Park Seismic LLC, a firm that provides R&D and analytic services for near-surface geotechnical applications. During the last two decades, he has been engaging with relevant engineering communities to help apply the near-surface seismic method to an increasingly diverse array of geotechnical projects. He has taught MASW courses at more than twenty geophysical and geotechnical conferences.