Advanced Seismic Imaging for Rock Mapping, Site Classification and Infrastructure Development
MASW is widely used throughout Australia and internationally for site investigations associated with roads, railways, bridges, dams, solar farms, wind farms, industrial developments, and major civil engineering projects.
Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) is an advanced seismic geophysical method used to map subsurface soil and rock conditions by measuring shear wave velocity (Vs). The technology provides highly reliable information on:

MASW Determines

• Ground stiffness,
• Weathering profiles, depth to Bedrock / Competent rock,
• Rippability,
• Seismic site classification, and engineering properties required for major infrastructure projects.

Rock Mapping and Bedrock Characterisation

One of the primary applications of MASW is the mapping of weathered and competent rock formations.

Shear wave velocity increases significantly as ground conditions transition from unconsolidated soils to weathered rock and finally to competent bedrock. This allows MASW to accurately delineate:

• Soil-rock interfaces
• Weathered rock thickness
• Depth to competent foundation rock
• Fractured rock zones, Variable rock quality zones
• Excavation and rippability conditions
• Potential foundation constraints

DELIVERABLES FOR ENGINEERING DESIGN

These deliverables provide engineers, planners, and project managers with the critical information required for safe and cost-effective infrastructure development.

Rock Mapping and Bedrock Characterisation

One of the primary applications of MASW is the mapping of weathered and competent rock formations.
Shear wave velocity increases significantly as ground conditions transition from unconsolidated soils to weathered rock and finally to competent bedrock. This allows MASW to accurately delineate:

• Soil-rock interfaces
• Weathered rock thickness
• Depth to competent foundation rock
• Fractured rock zones
• Variable rock quality zones
• Excavation and rippability conditions
• Potential foundation constraints

Most MASW providers use traditional 24 or 48 Channels that are limited not only severely limited on depth-of-investigation, daily production-rate because they are short arrays, but also limitations on resolution in the attempt to spread fewer channels to make-up for lateral spread / increase production.    Depending on the job, we deploy 72 channels, 96 channels, 60 or 48 channels Streamer based systems that offer unrivalled depth of investigation, resolution but also triple production rate and coverage, thus ensuring projects are completed ON TIME AND ON BUDGET.

For ordinary shallow 24 channels jobs, Land Streamers and Seismic Roll-along Switch devices are used to rapidly acquire 48, 72 to 96 Channels in one spread using a 24 seismograph, significantly increasing production-rate, coverage, data quality and minimising costs/ time billed to the client.

Our workflow, survey design, data processing method and approach is strategically designed to deliver results and data relevantly useable by engineers and designers.

VS30 is the internationally recognised parameter used to classify seismic site conditions. VS30 represents the average shear wave velocity of the upper 30 metres of the subsurface and is widely used for:

• Earthquake engineering
• Infrastructure design
• Building code compliance
• Bridge design
• Dam safety assessments
• Renewable energy projects
• Critical infrastructure developments