Geophysics exploration of the subsurface structures of Gopura V in the Preah Vihear temple heritage site using seismic refraction tomography

Seismic refraction tomography (SRT) revealed three distinct subsurface lithological units beneath Gopura V of the Preah Vihear Temple, a 9th-century Khmer Empire site. These include a soil layer with P-wave velocities of 790–1500 m/s, a weathered sandstone layer (1500–2000 m/s), and fresh sandstone (2000–3200 m/s). The study also identified subsurface sandstone boulders southeast of the gopura and open fractures in the northeast zone. Data from 7 SRT lines, collected using a 24-channel seismograph and 8 kg sledgehammer source, aligned with borehole lithology profiles, providing critical insights for the conservation and restoration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Eng, C., Heng, M. Y., Mao, P., Seng, M., Meach, V., Rong, P., Heng, S., Hun, K., Ea, D., & Thim, M. (2025). Geophysics exploration of the subsurface structures of Gopura V in the Preah Vihear temple heritage site using seismic refraction tomography. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1517(1), 12011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1517/1/012011