Short-Term Synchronous and Asynchronous Ambient Noise Tomography in Urban Areas: Application to Karst Investigation

Ya Liu , Jianghai Xia , Bo Guan , Chaoqiang Xi , Ling Ning , Hao Zhang

Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (5) : 292 -308.

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Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (5) : 292 -308. DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.02.001
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Short-Term Synchronous and Asynchronous Ambient Noise Tomography in Urban Areas: Application to Karst Investigation

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Abstract

Dense-array ambient noise tomography is a powerful tool for achieving high-resolution subsurface imaging, significantly impacting geohazard prevention and control. Conventional dense-array studies, however, require simultaneous observations of numerous stations for extensive coverage. To conduct a comprehensive karst feature investigation with limited stations, we designed a new synchronous–asynchronous observation system that facilitates dense array observations. We conducted two rounds of asynchronous observations, each lasting approximately 24 h, in combination with synchronous backbone stations. We achieved wide-ranging coverage of the study area utilizing 197 nodal receivers, with an average station spacing of 7 m. The beamforming results revealed distinct variations in the noise source distributions between day and night. We estimated the source strength in the stationary phase zone and used a weighting scheme for stacking the cross-correlation functions (C1 functions) to suppress the influence of nonuniform noise source distributions. The weights were derived from the similarity coefficients between multicomponent C1 functions related to Rayleigh waves. We employed the cross-correlation of C1 functions (C2 methods) to obtain the empirical Green’s functions between asynchronous stations. To eliminate artifacts in C2 functions from higher-mode surface waves in C1 functions, we filtered the C1 functions on the basis of different particle motions linked to multimode Rayleigh waves. The dispersion measurements of Rayleigh waves obtained from both the C1 and C2 functions were utilized in surface wave tomography. The inverted three-dimensional (3D) shear-wave (S-wave) velocity model reveals two significant low-velocity zones at depths ranging from 40 to 60 m, which align well with the karst caves found in the drilling data. The method of short-term synchronous–asynchronous ambient noise tomography shows promise as a cost-effective and efficient approach for urban geohazard investigations.

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Seismic interferometry / Surface wave tomography / Asynchronous ambient noise / Geohazards / Seismic ambient noise

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Ya Liu, Jianghai Xia, Bo Guan, Chaoqiang Xi, Ling Ning, Hao Zhang. Short-Term Synchronous and Asynchronous Ambient Noise Tomography in Urban Areas: Application to Karst Investigation. Engineering, 2025, 48(5): 292-308 DOI:10.1016/j.eng.2025.02.001

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