Fully integrated optical distributed acoustic sensing and seismic node acquisition for near-surface wave characterization in a complex urban archaeological site

A groundbreaking integration of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) with seismic nodes successfully characterized shallow subsurface properties at the complex urban archaeological site of Ani. This study demonstrated that borehole DAS, combined with surface geophone data, can effectively reconstruct P-wave and S-wave velocity models using both active and passive seismic methods. Notably, ambient noise interferometry was shown to be a viable alternative to active seismic campaigns, addressing logistical challenges in urban environments. The findings highlight the potential of fiber-optic technology for small-scale civil engineering applications, offering a cost-effective and flexible approach for near-surface wave characterization and long-term monitoring.

Nesterova, O., Barone, I., Cassiani, G., Brovelli, A., Rodríguez Tribaldos, V., Galtarossa, A., Schenato, L., Peruzzo, L., Boaga, J., Pavoni, M., Chalari, A., & Deiana, R. (2026). Fully integrated optical distributed acoustic sensing and seismic node acquisition for near-surface wave characterization in a complex urban archaeological site. Geophysics, 91(4), KS145–KS158. https://doi.org/10.1190/geo-2025-0406