Passive seismic surveys

Collaborative partners: Spektrum Geophysik AG;  Swiss Seismological Service

Passive seismic surveys make it possible to map the distribution of unstable slopes and assess their condition.

Seismic sensors can detect natural vibrations that occur across the Earth’s surface. A seismometer is set up on stable ground, while the other seismometers are distributed across the unstable slope. Vibrations are stored directly in seismometers, which measure for at least an hour before being collected again. The greater the deformation, the stronger the unstable rocks vibrate. Vibration directions provide information about fracture surfaces, and frequencies provide information about volume.