Tunnel detection at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, USA - Part 1: 2D full-waveform inversion experiment

Yao Wang, Richard D. Miller, Shelby L. Peterie, Steven D. Sloan, Mark L. Moran, Harley H. Cudney, James A. Smith, Dmitri Borisov, Ryan Modrak, Jeroen Tromp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe have applied time domain 2D full-waveform inversion (FWI) to detect a known 10 m deep wood-framed tunnel at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The acquired seismic data consist of a series of 2D survey lines that are perpendicular to the long axis of the tunnel. With the use of an initial model estimated from surface wave methods, a void-detection-oriented FWI workflow was applied. A straightforward VP/VS quotient masking method was used to reduce the inversion artifacts and improve confidence in identifying anomalies that possess a high VP/VS ratio. Using near-surface FWI, VP and VS velocity profiles were obtained with void anomalies that are easily interpreted. The inverted velocity profiles depict the tunnel as a low-velocity anomaly at the correct location and depth. A comparison of the observed and simulated waveforms demonstrates the reliability of inverted models. Because the known tunnel has a uniform shape and for our purposes an infinite length, we apply 1D interpolation to the inverted VS profiles to generate a pseudo 3D (2.5D) volume. Based on this research, we conclude the following: (1) FWI is effective in near-surface tunnel detection when high resolution is necessary. (2) Surface-wave methods can provide accurate initial S-wave velocity VS models for near-surface 2D FWI.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)B109-B119
JournalGeophysics
Volume84
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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