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MASW Analysis Software - Requirements
Those characteristics of MASW software are discussed here that are critical to the reliability of final product of shear-wave velocity (Vs) profiles.
Key Features
Key elements of any MASW software should include following modules, as minimum, for (1) source/receiver (SR) setup, (2) dispersion image
generation, (3) dispersion-curve extraction, (4) inversion to generate 1-D shear-velocity (Vs) profiles, and (5) presentation of velocity (Vs) information
in 1-D and 2-D formats. In addition, various types of special-analysis modules such as back-scattering analysis and common-offset section generation
may be included for more advanced handling of surface wave data.
Different software may adopt slightly different algorithms in dispersion and inversion analyses.
Dispersion Algorithm
For dispersion analysis, the phase-shift method by Park et al. (1998) is most commonly used after investigations by many researchers (e.g., Moro et
al., 2003) because of its proven high-resolution capability in comparison to other conventional methods such as f-k and tau-pi transformation methods
(e.g., McMechan and Yedlin, 1981). The high-resolution dispersion-imaging scheme is the most critical component of MASW analysis because of its
ability to discriminate different modes of plane waves that may include both body and surface waves travelling horizontally along the surface.
Inversion Algorithm
For inversion analysis, the fundamental-mode (M0) generation algorithm (e.g., Schwab and Knopoff, 1972) is most commonly used. Although there
has been a great deal of research and development in multi-mode utilization, software that takes full advantage of multi-mode while efficiently
handling all the associated complications (e.g., mode misidentification and mode mix) has not yet been developed. This is because of the fact that
modal identities of higher modes in reality cannot be uniquely determined. In consequence, the higher-mode inversion methods generate results often
less reliable than those from the traditional fundamental-mode (M0) inversion method. This is further illustrated in this video (after 3:40 time mark).
Yet, the traditional approach of the fundamental-mode (M0), or an apparent mode (AM0), inversion method provides an excellent outcome under most
common near-surface settings (e.g., overburden and bedrock), and can provide a 1st-degree approximation of other more complex settings.
Practical (Yet Critical) Algorithms
In addition to such obvious aspects of algorithms that are extensively described through major publications, there are also practical aspects of
software that are not publicly well addressed, yet can influence significantly on the final result of velocity (Vs) profiles. They may include, but not
limited to, the way the following issues are addressed:
These practical aspects should be properly calibrated in the software throughout extensive research and development based on both theoretical and
empirical experiments using diverse data sets.
Those characteristics of MASW software are discussed here that are critical to the reliability of final product of shear-wave velocity (Vs) profiles.
Key Features
Key elements of any MASW software should include following modules, as minimum, for (1) source/receiver (SR) setup, (2) dispersion image
generation, (3) dispersion-curve extraction, (4) inversion to generate 1-D shear-velocity (Vs) profiles, and (5) presentation of velocity (Vs) information
in 1-D and 2-D formats. In addition, various types of special-analysis modules such as back-scattering analysis and common-offset section generation
may be included for more advanced handling of surface wave data.
Different software may adopt slightly different algorithms in dispersion and inversion analyses.
Dispersion Algorithm
For dispersion analysis, the phase-shift method by Park et al. (1998) is most commonly used after investigations by many researchers (e.g., Moro et
al., 2003) because of its proven high-resolution capability in comparison to other conventional methods such as f-k and tau-pi transformation methods
(e.g., McMechan and Yedlin, 1981). The high-resolution dispersion-imaging scheme is the most critical component of MASW analysis because of its
ability to discriminate different modes of plane waves that may include both body and surface waves travelling horizontally along the surface.
Inversion Algorithm
For inversion analysis, the fundamental-mode (M0) generation algorithm (e.g., Schwab and Knopoff, 1972) is most commonly used. Although there
has been a great deal of research and development in multi-mode utilization, software that takes full advantage of multi-mode while efficiently
handling all the associated complications (e.g., mode misidentification and mode mix) has not yet been developed. This is because of the fact that
modal identities of higher modes in reality cannot be uniquely determined. In consequence, the higher-mode inversion methods generate results often
less reliable than those from the traditional fundamental-mode (M0) inversion method. This is further illustrated in this video (after 3:40 time mark).
Yet, the traditional approach of the fundamental-mode (M0), or an apparent mode (AM0), inversion method provides an excellent outcome under most
common near-surface settings (e.g., overburden and bedrock), and can provide a 1st-degree approximation of other more complex settings.
Practical (Yet Critical) Algorithms
In addition to such obvious aspects of algorithms that are extensively described through major publications, there are also practical aspects of
software that are not publicly well addressed, yet can influence significantly on the final result of velocity (Vs) profiles. They may include, but not
limited to, the way the following issues are addressed:
- how the process to update model velocity (Vs) is optimized in inversion,
- how computational artifacts are suppressed during the dispersion-image generation,
- the way incoherent ambient noise is handled during the dispersion-image generation and subsequent curve (M0) extraction,
- how the maximum depth of velocity (Vs) profile is determined,
- the way the initial velocity (Vs and Vp), density, and thickness models are created,
- how the apparent mode (AM0) is handled during inversion,
- how the overburden/bedrock interface is detected during inversion, and
- how non-uniqueness of inversion process is handled.
These practical aspects should be properly calibrated in the software throughout extensive research and development based on both theoretical and
empirical experiments using diverse data sets.
MASW Software ParkSEIS© (v. 3.0) AUTO - Released on Sept. 2017
which provides a fully automated default sequence of MASW data analysis. This means you can now generate shear-wave velocity (Vs) profiles (1D or 2D) with one click after importing seismic data. Please watch this on YouTube. The traditional manual approach is still available with even more advanced options for research and QA/QC purposes. More details about the AUTO feature are explained here. All other additions, updates, modifications, and bug fixes incorporated in this version of ParkSEIS are explained here. ParkSEIS provides the most up-to-date comprehensive tools in the history of MASW development. The technical algorithms have evolved through the last two decades of author's career as developer and practitioner of MASW, making it the most robust and reliable MASW analysis tool available today. A brief introduction of the software features is presented here. More technical details of the software can be found online. Overall features of ParkSEIS are introduced in this video. |
